The best cheap laptops in 2025 — Including one under $100.00

Why you can trust our best cheap laptops list

At Back Market, our goal is simple: make tech sustainable, reliable, and affordable. We know a thing or two about finding quality tech for much less, so we’ve curated this list for you. Our best cheap laptops list is based on expert knowledge of the refurbished tech market, focusing on devices that offer real value without compromising performance. We have carefully researched and compared the best budget laptops based on the key factors — build quality, performance, battery life, and value for money. Whether you’re looking for a gaming laptop, a laptop for school, or an affordable laptop under $100.00, this list has got you covered.

Which is the best cheap laptop for you?

Acer Aspire 3 — Best budget laptop overall

Verdict: 4/5

The Acer Aspire 3 balances good hardware, features, and price, setting the bar for budget laptops. The performance of its AMD Ryzen 7000 Series CPU is impressive, and the PC is fast enough to meet most users’ computing needs. Many budget laptops have less memory or terrible processors, but the Acer Aspire 3 has options. For memory, you can choose between 8GB, 12GB, and 16GB; for storage, choose between 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. You get an SSD regardless of your choice, so starting the laptop and launching programs will always be quick. You can also choose between 14-, 15-, and 17-inch screens, which is excellent, considering 14 in is the standard size limit for most ultraportable laptops. 

The Acer Aspire 3 is also very portable, and its battery life can reach up to 13 hours, making it more than capable of lasting an entire work or school day. Unlike most budget laptops with unpleasant keyboards and trackpads, the Aspire 3 features an accurate and reliable backlit keyboard and trackpad. On the downside, the Acer Aspire 3 features a 720p webcam, and its not-so-vibrant display lacks touch input. Despite its drawbacks, the Aspire 3 still outperforms many laptops in its price range.

MSI GF63 Thin — Best budget gaming laptop 

Verdict: 4.5/5

Gaming laptops can be expensive, but the MSI GF63 Thin balances value and performance. While it might not be as portable as the MacBook Air or Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1, the GF63 Thin is still reasonably portable, weighing about 4.1 lbs and measuring about 0.85 in thick. Available at such budget-friendly prices, it packs enough power to handle popular eSports titles and casual gaming, with specs including up to an Intel Core i7-12650H CPU, up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti GPU, and up to 64GB RAM. The sleek, brushed metal design gives it a premium build that outshines its price tag. 

Performance-wise, the GF63 Thin delivers playable frame rates at 1080p on medium settings for most modern games. It is not built to handle the most demanding, graphically intense modern games, but it gets the job done for everyday gaming and multitasking. Although color accuracy and brightness are lacking, the 144Hz display offers smooth visuals for fast-paced titles. Battery life is also shorter (typical of gaming laptops), especially during gaming sessions, so the GF63 Thin is best suited for home use or short trips. The MSI GF63 Thin is a solid budget gaming laptop if you can accept a few compromises.

MacBook Air M1 (2020) — Best budget MacBook

Verdict: 4.5/5

The MacBook Air M1 came out in 2020, and five years later, it is still one of the best budget laptops you can buy. While the MacBook Air M2 is also available for less than $1,000.00, the M1 Air takes the crown as the best budget MacBook in this list for two reasons. First, the MacBook Air M1 is still a strong performer despite debuting about five years ago. With the M1, you will get enough power for all your productivity needs and a long battery life. Secondly, Apple will continue supporting the MacBook Air M1 with the latest OS updates, including Apple Intelligence features, for a few more years. 

Getting a MacBook Air M1 is the most affordable way to get an Apple laptop and enjoy all its macOS goodness. Its battery life is still one of the best, reaching up to 14 hours — a milestone even some of the latest notebooks fail to achieve. The keyboard and trackpad are still great, but on the downside, you only get two USB-C ports, and the tapered design feels very old. 

The Air M1 is for casual users, creatives, or students looking for a budget laptop that doesn’t compromise performance.

Acer Aspire 5 — Best budget Windows laptop

Verdict: 4/5

The Acer Aspire 5 family provides a great option if you have less than $500.00 to spend on a capable laptop. It offers solid everyday performance and plenty of ports, and the recent models running Intel 11th-gen CPUs and supporting up to 16GB RAM and 1TB (SSD) of storage provide a nice middle ground for most users. Higher specs will attract a heavier price tag, but the Acer Aspire 5 generally offers excellent value. 

The Acer Aspire 5 features a 15-inch 1080p IPS display that delivers crisp streaming and web browsing visuals. The keyboard offers a comfortable typing experience, and the number pad is handy. While we don’t recommend this laptop specifically for gaming (the MSI GF63 Thin has that locked down), you can still get away with running some casual games when you need a break. The port selection includes USB-A, USB-C, and Ethernet ports, providing a practical choice for connecting multiple devices. 

The latest models offer Wi-Fi 6 for faster connectivity, and the Acer Aspire 5’s battery can last up to 10 hours, which is more than enough time for work or entertainment.

Lenovo Duet 5 Chromebook — Best budget 2-in1 laptop 

Verdict: 4/5

If you want a budget 2-in-1 laptop, the Lenovo Duet 5 Chromebook is a great option. It is a compact and lightweight laptop that’s great for media consumption and web browsing. This laptop will get you up to 11 hours of battery life, and like other 2-in-1 laptops, you can detach the keyboard from the screen to turn it into a tablet. It features an OLED display that’s sharp and colorful, and the “shape-shifter” gets bright enough to eliminate glare in most indoor settings. The Lenovo Duet 5 Chromebook also offers stylus support and includes a place to store the stylus on the back cover. However, unlike the detachable keyboard, you must purchase the stylus separately.

As good as the Lenovo Duet 5 Chromebook gets, it has some downsides. First, the keyboard and trackpad are too cramped, and it may need a decent amount of force to press the keys, while the small trackpad can sometimes be unresponsive. We recommend using a dedicated mouse with this laptop. The port selection is also limited, with only two USB-C ports, one of which you’ll need to charge the device.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 — Best budget Microsoft laptop 

Verdict: 4/5

Even though it costs just over $500.00, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is our pick for the best budget Microsoft laptop. If you love Microsoft laptops, you will enjoy this good-looking laptop. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is a budget touchscreen laptop that is highly portable and impressively powerful. It offers all the core features of the Surface Laptop experience at an affordable price for the budget-conscious buyer. 

Available in multiple alluring colors, its 12-inch display makes it the perfect choice for anyone looking for a compact laptop. Additionally, its Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB RAM (with an 8GB option also available), and 128GB SSD (with a 256GB option also available) are pretty respectable. There are a few compromises: the display isn’t as colorful and vibrant as its more expensive counterparts, the keyboard lacks backlighting, and it features a plastic touchpad instead of a glass one.

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook — Best budget laptop for students

Verdict: 3.8/5

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook is the best option for students looking for a budget laptop. Despite its budget price, this Chromebook punches above its weight. It isn’t a particularly powerful device, but ChromeOS runs impressively well, and it should perform day-to-day tasks like document creation, emailing, and web browsing well. The device can also be used for streaming media, but its small screen doesn’t provide a fully immersive experience. 

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook is an excellent choice for students because of its 2-in-1 design. This feature allows it to function as either a laptop and a tablet, offering great flexibility to students as it means they won’t need two separate devices. It provides excellent battery life, offering well over 13 hours of video playback, meaning it can easily get you through an entire school day without needing to be charged.

Samsung Chromebook 4 — Best budget laptop under $100.00

Verdict: 3/5

The Samsung Chromebook 4 is a lightweight, reliable, feature-rich laptop within even the tightest of budgets. This durable, refurbished laptop will give you everything you need for everyday tasks. Featuring an 11.6-inch display and a military-grade build, this Chromebook is built to withstand everything thrown its way, whether it’s a busy day at the office or a bumpy commute. Stay connected with ultra-fast Gigabit Wi-Fi and enjoy enhanced security with built-in virus protection. Offering up to 12 hours and 30 minutes of battery life, you can work or stream all day without needing a charge. 

This refurbished Samsung Chromebook 4 offers excellent value, delivering reliable performance at only a fraction of the cost. Whether you’re a student, a traveler, or you just need a reliable laptop on a budget, this option provides all the essentials without any unnecessary frills.

Shopping tips for the best cheap laptops

Price and quality are the two most important things to consider when shopping for affordable laptops. A good laptop offers the best balance of performance, battery life, and durability. Refurbished laptops are a great option, providing significant savings without compromising quality. At Back Market, we sell Verified Refurbished tech, including laptops. We have a wide selection of affordable, reliable, and sustainable laptops, and our laptops are available at 30% to 50% off compared to the price of a new one.

Additionally, each laptop from Back Market comes with a 1-year warranty and a 30-day return period for your peace of mind. Our affordable laptops not only save you money, but they save the planet, too. By choosing a refurbished laptop, you actively fight climate change by reducing the need for new manufacturing and keeping e-waste out of landfills. So, why not save some cash and the planet while you’re at it? Shop smart, shop refurbished — and let your next laptop do good while it does the job.

Trade in your old laptop for cash

Do you have any old tech gathering dust or cluttering your home? Back Market’s Trade-in program provides an excellent opportunity to give your old tech a second life and get extra cash in your pocket at the same time. Don’t just let that old tablet, laptop, or smartphone gather dust; trade it in for cash or credit. The process is simple: get an instant quote online, ship your device to us for free, and once it’s verified, you get paid. It’s a win-win-win. You declutter your home, earn extra cash, and help reduce e-waste by keeping devices in use longer. 

*Trade-in values taken at the date of publication – these are subject to change.

How to choose the best cheap laptop for you 

When hunting for a good budget laptop, you must keep some things in mind. Don’t expect class-leading performance, a super premium design, or even the most vibrant displays. But that doesn’t mean you have to settle for less. An affordable laptop can still get the job done. Here are some things to keep in mind when shopping for a laptop.

Operating system

Several operating systems are available — some are simpler than others, while some offer lots of customization. ChromeOS is the easiest to use, but it’s limited in scope. Windows laptops can do much more, but their expanded capabilities drain more battery power. macOS occupies that sweet spot between the two, but Apple laptops can be expensive. Consider what you’ll use your laptop for, and that will guide what you need from your operating system.

Battery

Regarding battery life, you only need to answer one question. Will you go long spells without charging capabilities or use your laptop next to an outlet? Consider the right balance between performance and battery life. A good laptop should last about eight hours (an entire workday), but longer is always better. However, don’t expect extended battery life for gaming laptops, as these laptops are power hogs designed to stay plugged in most of the time.

Portability

A laptop’s screen size tells you a lot about its portability. If you carry your laptop around and use it on your lap, consider one with a 12-, 13-, or 14-inch display. These are the most portable. If you won’t carry it around much and primarily use it on desks and tables, a 15-inch model will give you more value. 17- and 18-inch models are also available, mostly in gaming laptops and workstations, but these are the least portable.

Design: Clamshell or 2-in-1

More and more laptops are turning into 2-in-1s, with screens that either bend backward 360 degrees or detach so you can use them as tablets. If you fancy using your laptop as a tablet, a 2-in-1 could be for you. However, most of the time, traditional clamshell-style laptops get better features at a lower price.

Specs

You can spend a lot of time diving into specs and still not be sure what matters. But worry not — when it comes to finding a good budget laptop, there are just a few key components to consider. If you want an affordable laptop with excellent performance, opt for a Core i3 CPU, a 1080p display, 8GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD at the minimum. The SSD might be a bit challenging to get, but as long as you focus on the other three, you should be good.