Hello everyone and welcome to our list of 10 best laptops under $200, here we will be discussing all the budget laptops.
Let me clear one thing, if you’re looking for a laptop to play games or do some video editing then don’t even consider these options because these kinds of machines are only good for browsing, writing, data entry, music, movies, etc.
For such a price, you can easily find a laptop with Windows 10 and Google’s Chrome OS. Internal storage might be an issue in most of the listed laptops since the manufacturer’s first target is always storage space while lowering the budget.
We regularly test new and old laptops in our lab and all the following machines are tested for performance and durability. Of course, these notebooks have their own drawbacks but tell me honestly, what more do you expect for $200?
These are the best notebooks that one could buy for around $200. We always say choosing the laptop is all about the favorite brand and you should look for major budget brands like ASUS, Dell, Acer, Lenovo, and HP.
See also:
- Top 10 Best Laptop For AutoCAD
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- Top 10 Best 11 Inch Laptop Under 500$
- Top 8 Best Laptop Under 400$
Top 7 Best Laptop for 200$
#1, HP Chromebook 11-v031nr
- Intel Celeron N3060, 1.6GHz, dual-core Processor
- 4 GB LPDDR3 SDRAM Memory (onboard), Intel HD Graphics 400
- Chrome OS operating system
- 16GB eMMC; Maximum Battery Run Time: 11.50 Hour
- 11.6" diagonal HD IPS uwva corning Gorilla glass nbt WLED-backlit touchscreen (1366 x 768)
These days, when you’re talking about the best laptop for $200, you’re likely going to wind up with the best Chromebook for $200. That’s exactly what happened here. The HP Chromebook 11-v031nr is adequate in the best sense of the word: it has what you need, and nothing else. It features a reasonably solid build quality, is light, and very portable at about 2.5lbs. Its 11.6-inch,1368 by the 768-pixel display is clear and fairly bright with decent color. The keyboard is large and comfortable to type on, although it does feel a bit like typing on wet cardboard if you are used to more expensive keyboards on laptops like the Thinkpad X1.
The touchpad is large and responsive, recognizing left (one finger) and right (two-finger) mouse clicks without issues. Its battery life is also pretty good: we found that it lasted an impressive nine hours and 34 minutes on our browsing battery test. It’s also a budget Chromebook, so it’s relatively inexpensive.
The main issue with the Chromebook 11 is its internal storage: the 16GB of storage on the device leaves only about 8GB free, and that will quickly get filled when you start saving photos, music, and videos. You can add more storage space by plugging in a micro SD card, though a 64GB one will cost you about $12.
Pros
- Solid build quality
- The keyboard is easy to type on
- Good battery life
Cons
- Limited storage space
#2, Samsung Chromebook 3
- 11.6 inch ( 1366 x 768), 16:9
- Intel Celeron Processor N3060, 1.6 GHz to 2.48 GHz
- 4 GB Memory. Spill Resistant : Yes
- Google Chrome system. Brightness: 220 units
- Bluetooth 4.0
The equally tiny Samsung Chromebook 3 is originally a little more than $200, but there are a lot of units out there that are on sale for considerably less, new and refurbished. It’s only right, therefore, to add this popular Chromebook to our best laptops under $200, though if you do need more convincing reasons to consider this laptop other than saving a few dollars, we certainly have those as well.
Whether it’s because of its water-resistant keyboard – a nifty feature if you’ve got young kids at home – or it’s due to the fact it offers up to 11 hours of battery life, you will be sold on this 11-inch laptop. And, that’s without mentioning the fact that it looks like a premium laptop – and feels like it’s built like one too.
Pros
- Spill-resistant
- Long battery life
- Premium look
Cons
- Keys are sticky
- Screen and keyboard are nothing special
#3, HP STREAM
The HP Stream is among the best laptops under $200. The Intel Celeron N4000 processor is able to run your programs like MS Office, Skype, Chrome browser, etc.
Other specifications include 4 GB DDR4 RAM and 32 GB SSD (eMMC). This laptop comes with a decent keyboard and it’s small size and incredible battery life (12+ hours) make it a great choice for people on the go. This model has an improved Wi-Fi antenna for stronger and more reliable Internet connections.
It might not be a great laptop for writers and editors but it certainly is the best laptop for college students and businessmen. It sports an 11.6-inch HD display with 1366 x 768 resolution. The display is really amazing for watching movies and videos online.
The HP Stream ships with Windows 10 S. This means that, by default, you can only install applications from the Microsoft Store. This is a great security feature. However, if this is too limiting for you, it is possible to disable the S model.
#4, Acer Aspire 1
Acer Aspire 1 is a sleek-slim windows laptop packed with adequate hardware inside to carry out your daily works. From editing documents to multi-tabbed internet surfing, this Acer laptop is capable of handling all basic tasks pretty smoothly.
This laptop is finished in a black color, which makes this laptop look more stylish while its 4.1 pounds of weight makes it easier to carry and use this laptop from anywhere on the go. It has a 14-inch full HD screen which is bright and sharp enough to view everything in detail, but its webcam has sub-par video quality, and it’s only suitable for occasional video calls. It has a chiclet keyboard with a separate num pad to type comfortably for long hours. Its touchpad isn’t much responsive, but it supports multi-finger gestures which makes it easy to scroll and navigate while multitasking.
This laptop gets power from the Intel Celeron N4020 dual-core processor which handles all regular works pretty smoothly on this laptop. It has 4GB of RAM to give extra smoothness to your multitasking needs, and it comes with 64GB of internal storage which can be further expanded by inserting a memory card. The Acer Aspire 1 is the best cheap laptop in $200 price range right now, so if you don’t mind spending a little over $200, then this is currently the best windows laptop you can get for yourself within your small budget.
#5, ASUS Chromebook C202SA-YS02 11.6-inch
If you are looking for a strong and sturdy Chromebook that can handle the abuses of the classroom, then the ASUS Chromebook C202SA-YS02 is well worth considering. It has been specially designed with nano-molding technology to ensure that it is tough as nails and the rubber bumpers help to protect this Chromebook from impact in unforeseen accidents. It has even been tested by ASAS to endure a 3.9-foot drop. ASUS has also given the Chromebook C202SA-YS02 a spill-resistant keyboard to ensure that this Chromebook will still function in the event of an unforeseen spillage while it is being used. The 180-degree hinged display allows for easier viewing while in group discussions and gives the ASUS Chromebook C202SA-YS02 a bit more flexibility when relaxing with your feet up on the sofa. Powering the ASUS
Chromebook C202SA-YS02 is an Intel Celeron N3060 processor and 4GB of RAM, which combined are more than powerful enough for most Chrome OS tasks. While the standard Microsoft Office cannot be installed on Chrome OS, you will be able to use Google Docs, QuickOffice and Microsoft Office Online for all of your word processing needs. The 16GB of storage will allow for a handful of applications and documents to be stored on the ASUS Chromebook C202SA-YS02, however, it has been designed to be used in conjunction with Google’s Drive cloud storage. You get 100GB of cloud storage space for 2 years from Google, thereafter it will cost $1.99 a month to keep the same amount of storage. If you would prefer an offline solution, then we recommend purchasing a 128GB MicroSD card and installing it into the MicroSD slot for a more permanent storage solution.
Pros
- Rugged design
- MicroSD slot
- Spill-resistant keyboard
- Price
Cons
- Limited storage space
- No optical drive
- Non-upgradable
- Limited amount of apps
- Linux not supported
#6, Lenovo Chromebook S330
If you want a cheap, spare laptop for casual use like watching Netflix, social media surfing, and browsing (or even if you are a student on a budget) – it’s long overdue that you diss that windows PC and switch to Lenovo Chromebook to enjoy the accelerated speed that Chrome OS has to offer.
Many people tend to buy Chromebooks with unrealistic expectations. A Chromebook is somewhere between a laptop and an android phone so you can’t expect it to work like a MacBook or a full-fledged PC.
With that in mind, let’s see if Lenovo Chrome book S33o is worth a try.
Equipped with 4 GB RAM, MediaTek™ MTK8173C Processor, and 64 GB storage, this chrome book is a responsive yet straight-forward laptop. The processor is adequate enough to handle online tasks and stream Netflix videos for you.
Encased in a business-black, textured plastic case with a chrome logo on the front, the Chromebook s330 has a sleek and modern look to it. It is not a 2-in-1 model and its lid only opens up to 180 degrees. When you open the lid, you can see the keyboard underneath is full-size and quite functional. The keys have a smooth finish to them.
Having 14” extra-wide screen with 1920×1080 FHD resolution, this machine is supplied with agreeable if not exceptional display quality. But then again, that’s what you paid for. You can enjoy bright and good quality videos without any hassle. The anti-glare display is excellent for providing you clear pictures while working in brightly-lit surroundings.
Users can’t stop raving about the amazing battery life of this little beast. Without the energy-consuming processor and the unending updates of the Windows OS, the battery lasts up to 11 hours. That is massive considering the price point but then again Chromebooks are hailed for their superb battery life.
Weighing at 3.3 lbs. and less than one-inch thickness, enables this Chromebook to be carried around anywhere seamlessly. The webcam is 720P and is decent enough for a Skype calling session. The speaker quality is surprisingly loud and clear for a chrome book. Another plus point!
Pros
- Well-made machine
- 14’’ extended screen display
- Easy to set up
- Fast boot up process
- USB-C port for fast charging
- Versatile machine for everyday tasks
- Lots of apps available at play store
Cons
- Poor viewing angles
#7, Dell Inspiron i3162 Laptop
This is another great laptop in our list of the best cheap laptops under 200 dollars. This laptop is finished in Bali blue color and distinct design which gives it an awesome look. It has an 11.6-inch HD display having a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. Because of the anti-glare LED-backlit display, you can use this laptop in direct sunlight places. This laptop is powered by Intel Celeron N3060 processor paired with 4GB RAM and 32GB flash storage offers fast data transfer speeds.
For connectivity, the laptop sports USB 3.0, Wi-fi 802.11ac, and HDMI ports. Its keypad offers precise pointing and gesture recognition which allow better control over typing. This Dell Inspiron laptop offers a longer battery life up to 9.5-hours making it the best laptop for students under a $200 price range.
What to Look for When Buying Laptops Under $200
Portability – A budget laptop doesn’t have to be a clunker. For under $200, you can still find a compact and lightweight laptop. Most of these will be around 11 inches in terms of screen size and weigh between 2 to 4 pounds. This makes them ideal for slipping into your backpack and taking to school or travel.
Productivity – While most budget laptops won’t be capable of intense tasks like video or photo editing, nearly all of them can handle web browsing, word processing, slideshows, and other productivity functions. The main operating systems you’re likely to encounter in both cases are Google’s Chrome OS and Microsoft’s pared-down Windows 10 S. Both operating systems are somewhat limited but can let you do everything you might need for the average school day.
Battery Life – At a minimum, a budget laptop should be able to handle 6-8 hours of work. That should be enough for a school day or workday, with some room to recharge in the evening. Chromebooks tend to be a bit better at preserving battery life due to their lighter OS, but the same is true of Windows 10 S laptops.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are The Laptops Below $200 Strong And Sturdy Enough?
The laptops below $200, if manufactured by reputed brands can be expected to provide decent performance. Yes, they will be as strong or fragile as any other laptop you may find in the market for higher prices as well. There may be a marginal difference in the quality of plastic used in the making of the outer body shell.
Can I Give The Laptop Under $200 To My Kids?
These laptops are considered entry-level machines and if you wish to expose your children to computers for the first time, there is no harm in allowing them to use these laptops. Even if it is damaged by your kids, you will not regret it much!
Can I Do Some Upgrades To The Laptop Under $200 And Make This My Main Computer?
The chances of upgrades to these laptops are quite limited. For the cost you have already paid to acquire this machine plus the additional expense on a proposed upgrade, you could buy a new laptop with better specs. It is not a good idea.
Do Laptop Manufacturers Honor The Warranty Clauses?
Most reputed laptop companies do stick to the warranty terms. Their authorized service centers you will be directly dealing with may offer a different experience. If you are not satisfied, you can contact the customer care at the manufacturer’s end and register your complaint.
What Is The Average Life Of A Laptop, After Which You Will Have To Replace It?
There is no fixed period from the date of purchase beyond which laptops cannot be used. It can vary with the individual piece and the manner in which it is handled and so on. On average, it may be prudent to change your laptop every 3 to 5 years. This is particularly relevant if you use the laptop on a daily basis for key activities.
Conclusion
These are the top recommended cheap laptops to buy under 200 dollars. So before buying any laptop, read reviews and hardware specifications to ensure the quality of the product and choose the laptop which suits your requirements.
I hope you like this review guide of the best laptops under 200 dollars. If you have any doubts or suggestions about the budget laptops, feel free to ask in the comment section below.