In case you’re looking for an alternative to your laptop running Windows or macOS, you will find there are a couple of options available with the Linux operating system.
Linux is a free and open-source operating system that offers you a massive amount of freedom and privacy – and they are generally more secure too (due to Windows 10, in particular, being so popular, and more of a goal for viruses).
While Linux has a small reputation for being complex and technical, there are a number of distros (Linux versions ), which are ideal for beginners, such as Ubuntu and Mint. And, if you purchase a laptop with Linux pre-installed, then getting started is even simpler.
With this guide, we are going to dive into the best cheap Linux laptop
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Top 5 Best Cheap Linux Laptop
#1, Acer Swift 3
- 10th Generation Intel Core i5-1035G4 Processor (Up to 3 7GHz) | 8GB LPDDR4 Memory | 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
- 13 5" Acer VertiView 2K 2256 x 1504 Widescreen IPS LED-backlit Display (3 2 aspect ratio) | Intel Iris Plus Graphics
- Intel Wireless Wi-Fi 6 AX201 802 11ax | Backlit Keyboard | Fingerprint Reader | Up to 16 Hours Battery Life
- 1 - USB 3 1 Type C port (up to 10 Gbps) DisplayPort over USB-C Thunderbolt 3 USB Charging DC-in 1 - USB 3 1 Gen 1 port (featuring power-off charging) 1 - USB 2 0 port & 1 - HDMI port
- Co-Engineered for Mobile Performance by Intel and Acer
This compact and flexible 14-inch Laptop from Acer provides a solid Linux platform and workstation. The Acer Swift 3 boasts a slick, all-metal construction while weighing in at just over 3 lbs. and under an inch thick.
This notebook has all the features and conveniences you’d expect from a top of the line notebook, including 10-hour battery life, many different interfaces, and connectivity options including USB-C and HDMI. The Swift 3 also sports an integrated camera and fingerprint reader for added security.
Under the hood, our recommended version of this Swift 3 comes equipped with a 10th gen Intel CPU, capable of up to 3.7Ghz, as well as an ample 8GB of DDR4 RAM and a 512 GB SSD for plenty of storage space plus snappy responsiveness.
#2, Acer Aspire 1 A114
- Intel Celeron N4000 Dual-Core Processor (Up to 2.6GHz)
- 14" Full HD (1920 x 1080) Widescreen LED-backlit Display
- 4GB DDR4 SDRAM Onboard Memory & 64GB eMMC
- Microsoft 365 Personal 1-Year Subscription & Windows 10 Home in S mode
- Up to 6.5 Hours Battery Life
Another Windows 10 laptop with great Linux potential is the Acer Aspire 1 A114. It is the cheapest laptop using a 14-inch Complete HD screen and a good enough processor to run Linux. Yes, you will find other cheaper laptops accessible with some variation of these specifications. But this combination makes the Aspire 1 a fantastic budget-friendly option to run Linux.
The dual-core Intel Celeron N4000 processor is capable enough for web development, fundamental media and work usage, together with general internet browsing. The 4GB of RAM may be somewhat limiting, but you have to anticipate some compromises at a low-cost point.
The Aspire 1 A114 was well received also. LaptopMag was surprised by the stylish profile and lightweight lid. Then there was programmer Michael Bethencourt, who recommends such as the best entry-level Linux laptop.
#3, HP Chromebook 14
- Processor: Intel(R) Celeron(R) Processor N3350, Dual-Core, 1.1GHz up to 2.4GHz
- Google Drive: Get 100 GB two-year cloud storage with Google Drive
- Display: 14.0-inch diagonal Full HD AntiGlare IPS WLED-backlit Display (1920 x 1080)
- Memory: 4 GB LPDDR4-2400 SDRAM (not upgradable)
- Storage: 32 GB eMMC. Power supply: 45 W AC power adapter, Battery: 2-cell, 47.36 Wh Li-ion
Committed Linux laptops are excellent, but you can also consider Chromebooks. In 2019, Google announced that newly launched Chromebooks will encourage Linux software. That’s good news for Linux and Chrome OS lovers. This implies affordable laptops such as the HP Chromebook 14 can provide above-average Linux-compatible hardware in a bargain price.
At this price point, you do not often see Full HD screens, but that is exactly what the HP Chromebook 14 delivers. The dual-core Intel Celeron N3350 processor and 4GB of RAM are sufficient for most everyday tasks. That said, do not expect to perform any major picture editing or gaming on this laptop.
#4, Pinebook 64
This isn’t the most powerful device available, but with a price like this, it is a fantastic choice for those who would like to test their fortune with Linux OS. This machine runs on a quad-core ARM Cortex A53 processor and has 2GB of RAM. It also has 16GB of flash storage.
In regards to connectivity, you will find two USB 2.0 ports, a MicroSD card slot, a digital audio port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The display will be 11.6 inches, upgradable to 14 inches, while the resolution is 1366 x 768. The laptop is pretty thin and light, 0.47 inches, and either 2.30lbs or 2.78pounds depending on the size.
#5, Pinebook Pro
For laptop seekers on a budget, Pinebook Pro version costs just $199 and is open-source from start to finish as befits Pinebook’s philosophy of”Not one of us is as smart as all of us.” As opposed to shelling out close to $1,000 for a Chromebook, the Pinebook Pro offers users a laptop using a high-grade calcium-alloy cover, a 14-inch IPS 1080p LCD panel, and a total modification in a fraction of the price tag. But this PC also includes reliable standbys such as USB-C, microSD, and 4K video output at 60Hz.
Pinebook Pros additionally comes powered with the Rockchip RK3399 SOC processor that provides high performance at low power so that you should experience zippy performance. It is also possible to order your laptop with ANSI and ISO keyboard variations and utilize privacy switches for your own camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mic. You can not do some high-fidelity gaming on this option by any means, but it needs to be great for general use, streaming video, word processing, and so forth.
Why Choose Linux on Windows and macOS?
Though all those attempts eventually pay off once you find the perfect laptop and Linux distribution to use. Linux as an OS, adds a lot of value to your everyday solutions due to a number of explanations. Among them is its innovative customizability which allows Linux users the flexibility to mold their OS in accordance with their standards. This is 1 feature that its competitors, Windows and macOS lack.
Another persuasive factor to change to Linux is your privacy and security it offers, which is much to ask these times from contemporary OSs. It’s certainly an appreciable precept of Linux to respect an individual’s discretion. With Linux, you are free from the frets of a company owning your personal data. Linux is organized in a manner that doesn’t want a user’s personal data for profiling, nor does it have some incentives to store your data on a cloud for”safe-keeping”.
There is also a certain quantity of stability that Linux has evolved through the years using its distros. Rather than adding glitz and glamor such as its competitors, Linux’s upgrades involve increasing OS stability, ease of use and removing excessive baggage in each release.
From a personal standpoint, I believe the founders of Linux have maintained that the conspicuous trajectory when it comes to improving their OS. As opposed to Microsoft which often releases using a disappointment of a version after a couple of Windows builds, and macOS that’s restricting user control day by day, Linux’s upgraded features are here to remain and each release is a certain step forward instead of backward. However minor or major the change may be.
While you will find no other reasons to prove that Linux is far better than Windows and macOS, we would prefer not to go over all them here since this manual is more about laptops for Linux and not why Linux is a much better OS. If you would like to dive deeper into the comparison of these operating systems, then you will find a lot of in-depth comparison posts you can find on Google.
By now you might have created your mind whether you want a Linux laptop or not. Interested users, keep reading to find out the next step in buying the best Linux laptop.
Conclusion
These were our selections for the best budget laptops for Linux. We hope you discovered the read helpful and that it helped you in your hunt to find the best Linux laptops. As you can see, we’ve kept the list as diverse as you can by including laptops from different price points covering various features and functionalities.
So let us know which laptop you are planning on getting for installing Linux. Furthermore, when you’ve got some other preferred budget laptop that people left out from the listing, then do not forget to share it in the comments section. It helps us improve the scope of this post, and also provide your fellow readers with a few more options.