The Best Laptops Under $200 of 2023 (A Complete Guide)

Gone are the days when you had to spend life’s savings to buy a computer because now you can buy a decent-performing laptop for as cheap as $200!

Although laptops under $200 do not have the processing power required for running the most intensive software or game out there, you can do all the basic everyday tasks like surfing the web, creating presentations, attending meetings, etc., without any issues.

You also get a lot of choices!

You can get a 2-in-1 laptop with a rotatable touchscreen if you wish to, or get a traditional laptop under $200 for yourself. There are also Chromebooks available under $200, which are great if you mostly work inside your browser, and if you want to use MS Office, there are also a few Windows netbooks available under $200 that offer a year of Microsoft 365 subscription for free!

But no one will tell you this!

Laptops under $200 cannot be your primary work machine.

Yes, the hardware that powers these laptops isn’t all that powerful to daily drive them for work.

Sure, as mentioned before, they are great for basic tasks, but they slow down as soon as you try to do anything more than basic on them. Like opening five or more tabs in chrome, multitasking with three or more apps at once would slow them down. Not to mention, they also have very less onboard storage.

So, it’s evident that the cheap laptops and chromebooks available under $200 aren’t suitable for serious computing needs. So if you were planning to buy it to play the latest games or perform intensive tasks like programming or video editing on these budget laptops, then these laptops wouldn’t be able to handle it.

But you can play old, less demanding games like Roblox, Minecraft, or Half-Life on some laptops (mentioned in the list of our top picks below).

That leads us to the question –

So, now if you think that these cheap laptops under $200 are suitable for your requirements, then in this guide, we have rounded up 10 of the best laptops under $200 that offer the most value for money right now.

Well, if you think that laptops under $200 will be underpowered for your work, then have a look at our most recommended best budget laptops under $500 right now. They pack enough performant hardware to do most tasks smoothly and can even handle light media editing and gaming. If you can’t spend that much, consider one of the best laptops under $300 right now. Alternatively, you can also visit the budget laptops section of our website, where you’ll find all the best budget laptops right now.

Best Laptops Under $200 – Top Picks

The best laptop under $200 right now

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Processor: Intel Celeron N4020 Dual Core Processor (Turbo up to 2.8GHz)
• Graphics: Intel UHD 600 Graphics
• RAM: 4GB DDR4 RAM
• Storage: 64GB eMMC
• Display: 11.6-Inch HD Anti-Glare Display with 1366 x 768 pixels
• Weight: 2.3 lbs

BEST PRICE RETAILERS:

ASUS L210MA is our most recommended laptop under $200 for a lot of reasons. Firstly, it is a very well-built and designed notebook. We think it’s probably the best-looking laptop you can buy in the $200 price segment. Moreover, it performs well and rocks some pretty nifty features that are not available on any other laptop under $200.

Powered by a dual-core Intel Celeron processor with 4GB RAM and 64GB eMMC storage, the Asus L210MA is a capable everyday performer. It can handle everything from multi-tab web browsing to streaming HD videos and even some light indie games.

Its 11-inch display does not get too bright to use comfortably outdoors, but it’s perfectly fine for indoor usage, and it is anti-glare, so less reflections and eye strains. The keyboard is also very comfortable with tactile keys, and a 1.4mm key travel distance makes all the difference when typing for long hours. Its trackpad is also smooth to operate, and it doubles up as a Numpad! There are hardly any laptops under $200 that can accommodate a full-size keyboard with a numpad. That said, if you are the kind of user for whom the numpad is very important, then this “on-trackpad numpad” on the Asus L210MA works flawlessly.

The Asus L210MA also offers plenty of connectivity options ranging from a standard USB 3.0 port to a USB Type-C port, and even an HDMI port and an SD card slot which would aid to expand its less onboard storage.

Overall the ASUS L210MA is a well-rounded package that checks most of the right boxes, and hence it is an excellent Windows laptop under $200 for everyday use, be it for students or business professionals.

Read our full ASUS L210MA-DB01 11″ Laptop Review

The Best Chromebook Under $200

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Processor: Intel Celeron N4500 Dual Core Processor (Turbo up to 2.8GHz)
• Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics
• RAM: 4GB DDR4 RAM
• Storage: 64GB eMMC
• Display: 14-Inch Anti-Glare HD Screen, 1366 x 768 pixels resolution
• Weight: 3.24 lbs

BEST PRICE RETAILERS:

If you are looking for the best chromebook under $200, you won’t find a better-performing one than this HP Chromebook 14a. Why? It is among the very few laptops available with Intel’s latest Jasper Lake Celeron N4500U processor in this price range. So it is faster and more battery efficient than most other laptops listed here. The goodness does not end there. The HP Chromebook 14a also features many other exciting features that make it a great package overall for the price.

Starting with the display, it has a large 14-inch screen, providing more room to open multiple windows and use them side by side for increased productivity. The bezels around the screen are also comparatively small, and there’s also a built-in HD webcam which is decent enough for video conferencing. You also get an excellent keyboard with chiclet-style keys, and it also has a huge touchpad to use Chrome OS with ease.

All the ports and slots are lined up on either side of the Chromebook, including multiple USB Type-C ports for charging and data transfer, a single USB Type-A port, and there’s also a microSD card reader to expand its storage. You also get the latest and fastest Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 on this Chromebook for reliable wireless connectivity.

With lightweight chassis, decent battery backup, and loud stereo speakers powered by Bang & Olufsen, the HP 14a-na0020nr Chromebook is an excellent option for anyone to work/study from home.

Tough design & spill resistant keyboard

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Processor: Intel Celeron N4020 Dual Core Processor (Turbo up to 2.8GHz)
• Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 600
• RAM: 4GB LPDDR4 RAM
• Storage: 32GB eMMC
• Display: 11.6-Inch Anti-Glare HD Screen, 1366 x 768 pixels resolution
• Weight: 2.6 lbs

BEST PRICE RETAILERS:

If you are those clumsy types of person who always break things or if you are looking to purchase your kid a new laptop, then Samsung Chromebook 4 is the one you should get. It is an ultraportable Chromebook weighing less than 3 pounds that passes the MIL-STD-810G tests! Meaning, it can take a lot more beating than the standard notebook, and it features a spill-resistant keyboard too.

From design, it still looks pretty much like a standard notebook, though. The exterior is entirely made of plastic, and it has an aluminum lid, lending it a premium feel. Its 11-inch display is nothing to boast of — it’s dim but good enough for home usage, and it’s anti-reflective, so your eyes will thank you for it.

If we talk about the performance, it feels just like every other Chromebook under $200 since it also has a dual-core Intel Celeron inside paired with 4GB RAM. That is, you’ll be fine as long as you don’t open too many Chrome tabs or apps at once. For storage, it has only 32GB of space, but you’re saved by a microSD card reader provided on the left-hand side.

With all the other essential ports, a full day’s worth of battery life, and a price tag that wouldn’t leave a dent in your wallet, the Samsung Chromebook 4 is a terrific value for under $200, and if you don’t mind older specs we have seen it selling refurbished for less than $100!

A well-balanced Windows laptop

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Processor: Intel Pentium N5030 Quad-Core (1.1 – 3.1 GHz)
• Graphics: Intel UHD 605
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 256GB SSD
• Display: 14-inch HD (1366 x 768) anti-glare LED display
• Weight: 3.0 lbs

BEST PRICE RETAILERS:

The Lenovo IdeaPad 1i 14 is one of the most popular laptop among buyers in this price range and for a reason. It offers a very well-balanced specs for the price, with equally great display and keyboard, making it an excellent value overall.

It is powered by a quad-core Intel Pentium processor that can boost up to 3.1 GHz. The processor is paired with an adequate 4GB RAM and a spacious 256GB SSD storage, which is pretty rare at this price range.

So it has got an excellent hardware and it is complimented further by its large 14-inch HD display, which is anti-glare, and its keyboard is also very comfortable to type on.

Overall, it is a delight to work on this laptop and the conveniency of varied connectivity options (both physical ports and wireless), long battery life and good quality webcam and microphone makes it one of the best Windows laptops you can buy under $200 right now.

Though its build quality isn’t all that great with its exterior being all plastic, the design of the laptop is pretty modern and good looking. Also, it is the recently launched model and comes with the latest Windows 11 pre-installed and Lenovo is also offering a year of Microsoft 365 subscription free with it!

So if you want to buy a Windows laptop that does not suffer from the low on-board storage problem and offers all the latest and greatest hardware and software for $200, then the Lenovo IdeaPad 1i 14 should be your choice.

The best 2 in 1 touchscreen laptop under $200

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Processor: MediaTek MT8183 2.0GHz 8-Core CPU
• Graphics: Integrate ARM Mali-G72 MP3
• RAM: 4GB DDR4 RAM
• Storage: 64GB eMMC
• Display: 11.6-Inch HD IPS Touchscreen with 1366 x 768 pixels resolution (glossy)
• Weight: 2.6 lbs

BEST PRICE RETAILERS:

If you have done even a little bit of research about laptops under $200 on your own, then you’ll know that there aren’t many convertible laptops available under $200, especially if you are looking for one with Windows operating system. There are few options from some lesser-known brands, but they are not worth the risk. So, either you’ll have to spend more, or you’ll have to settle with a 2-in-1 Chromebook.

If you are okay buying a convertible Chromebook, then Lenovo Chromebook Flex 3 11″ is the one we recommend. It’s powered by a MediaTek MT8183 processor, which is similarly capable as the Intel Celeron processor, and it is accompanied by 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, which is adequate for a Chromebook. It can handle moderate multitasking and tasks like web surfing, video streaming, and likes without any problem. Moreover, you can also install Android apps on it and enjoy playing games on its touchscreen display.

Speaking of the display, it comes with an 11.6-inch touchscreen IPS panel with a 360° hinge, so it can be used in the stand, tablet or normal mode, typical of a 2-in-1 laptop. The display produces decent colors, has good viewing angles, and it’s also bright enough to use comfortably under the shade, but it is glossy, so it shows a lot of reflections and makes it hard to use the laptop outdoors.

Still, the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 3 11″ is one of the best convertible laptops you can buy for under $200 right now. With a decent amount of ports, up to 16 hours of battery life and an ultraportable design, it could be a great little 2-in-1 for students to take to school or a laptop/tablet combo for professionals to complete basic tasks on the go.

Has a Full HD Display!

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Processor: Intel Celeron N4020 1.1GHz Dual-Core (Turbo up to 2.8 GHz)
• Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 600
• RAM: 4GB DDR4 RAM (Expandable up to 8GB)
• Storage: 64GB eMMC
• Display: 14-inch Full HD Anti-Glare Display, 1920 x 1080 Resolution
• Weight: 2.8 lbs

BEST PRICE RETAILERS:

Before you start calling this a Chromebook biased list, here’s another Windows laptop that we recommend to buy under $200. The Asus L410MA features a large 14-inch display, on trackpad numpad like the Asus L210MA 11″ (our top pick), and decent performing specs to get you through your everyday computing needs.

It has the exact same specs as the Asus L210MA 11″ — an Intel Celeron N4020 processor with 4GB RAM. So, performance would feel mostly similar, meaning you’ll be fine as long as you don’t tax its hardware too much by opening a lot of browser tabs or having multiple applications running in the background. However, a bigger 14-inch display makes all the difference here. Its larger size gets you that extra screen real-estate so that you can work comfortably by opening two apps side by side, and it’s also sharper with Full HD (1920 by 1080) resolution, so watching YouTube or Netflix would be a better experience on this laptop. However, its speakers does not get much loud, so you’ll have to use headphones with it.

Apart from that, everything else from design to keyboard and trackpad feel is more or less the same as the Asus L210MA, just stretched out to fit the larger chassis.

So, if you want to buy a Windows laptop under $200 that feels like a “standard notebook” than a “netbook,” then Asus L410MA is the one for you.

With tall 16:10 aspect ratio display

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Processor: Intel Celeron N4020 (Dual Core, 1.1GHz – 2.8GHz)
• Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 600
• RAM: 4GB LPDDR4
• Storage: 32GB eMMC
• Display: 12-inch HD+ IPS Anti-Glare Display
• Weight: 3.0 lbs

BEST PRICE RETAILERS:

If you are looking for a work-oriented Chromebook, one that does not have a flashy colored exterior or look like a kid’s laptop, then Acer Chromebook 512 should be your choice. Its all-black exterior and textured lid looks premium and fits well in professional environment.

While it boasts pretty similar hardware as the other laptops under $200—Intel Celeron N4020 processor paired with 4GB RAM, the main USP of this Chromebook is its 12-inch display with a tall 3:2 aspect ratio.

It has a resolution of 1366 by 912, meaning it provides slightly more vertical space than standard 16:9 wide displays so that you can see more content on screen at a time. The display also uses an IPS panel, so it has pretty wide viewing angles and the brightness and color reproduction are also adequate.

Since this is a laptop targeted towards corporates, the ports selection is also very good on it. It has two USB Type-C ports and two USB Type-A ports, and it also has a microSD card reader which would aid to extend its 32GB of built-in storage.

While we do not like the large bezels around its screen, everything else from its keyboard to trackpad and up to 12 hours of battery life are laudable things about this laptop. Not to mention, its chassis is also military standard tested to withstand drops and its keyboard is also spill resistant!

Great typing experience

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Processor: Intel Celeron N4020 Dual Core Processor (Turbo up to 2.8GHz)
• Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 600
• RAM: 4GB DDR4
• Storage: 64GB eMMC
• Display: 11.6-Inch HD WLED-backlit Anti-Glare Screen (1366 x 768 pixels resolution)
• Weight: 2.3 lbs

BEST PRICE RETAILERS:

Finally, after the long wait, one of the most popular budget laptops under $200 — the HP Stream 11 is updated with a newer-generation Intel processor. That makes it support the latest Windows 11 operating system, and it now comes pre-installed with it! Although no changes are made to its design, it still manages to entice buyers with its clean minimal design, unique color options, and excellent keyboard in such a small device.

So, it comes in two color options, Diamond White and Royal Blue; the former goes well in a professional environment while the latter is well-suited for students. What we love most about the HP Stream 11, though, is its design. It is clean on the outside, and the keyboard deck has a slight texture that feels good on wrists while typing.

Speaking of typing, its keyboard is just phenomenal. It has a great layout, keypresses feel precise and tactile, and it’s comfortable to type for long hours. The trackpad also feels smooth, and since it uses Windows Precision drivers, you can use multi-finger gestures on it.

If all you want to do on your laptop is surf the web, stream media, and do light work on MS Office apps, you’ll find HP Stream 11’s performance more than adequate. Only when you have more than two apps opened you’ll start seeing it slowing down, which is typical of every Windows laptop under $200.

So overall, the HP Stream 11 is yet another worth considering option if you are looking for a Windows laptop. Performance-wise it is mostly similar to other notebooks, but the USP of the Stream 11 is you can buy it in unique color shades, and its keyboard is also one of the best you can get on 11-inch laptops in this price range. Plus, HP includes a free year of Windows 365 subscription with it, which alone makes it a great deal.

The Cheapest Laptop Under $200

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Processor: Intel Celeron N4020 1.1GHz Processor (Dual Core, Up to 2.8GHz)
• Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 600
• RAM: 4GB LPDDR4
• Storage: 64GB eMMC
• Display: 11.6-Inch HD (1366 x 768) Anti-Glare Screen
• Weight: 2.4 lbs

BEST PRICE RETAILERS:

The Lenovo Chromebook 3 is also an equally great option as other 11-inch laptops under $200. We would not talk about its performance since it is also powered by the same specs as most laptops do, so you get the idea about its capabilities. It’s good enough for regular internet-based jobs.

The unique aspects of this laptop that make it worth considering are its design and the display’s 180° hinge. So, the laptop comes in an Onyx black color, but the left part of its lid has a gray-textured finish, and there also lies a subtle Chromebook branding. That adds a premium vibe to this Chromebook and looks unique from other mostly plain-looking laptops in this price range. Apart from that, it features a 180-degree display hinge, which sometimes can be helpful to share the content on the screen with a group of people.

Rest everything is more or less similar to other laptops in this price category, but its keyboard is right in league with the best ones in this price range, and its 720p webcam is also better than VGA cameras on most other cheap notebooks.

So, all in all, if you are looking for a premium-looking ultraportable laptop, then Lenovo Chromebook 3 11 is one of those beauties in this price range that manages to fool people into thinking it is a much expensive device.

Strong build quality

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Processor: Intel Celeron N4020 Dual Core Processor (Turbo up to 2.8GHz)
• Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 600
• RAM: 4GB LPDDR4
• Storage: 16GB eMMC
• Display: 11.6-Inch HD Anti-Glare Screen (1366 x 768 pixels resolution)
• Weight: 2.8 lbs

BEST PRICE RETAILERS:

Last but not least, if you are looking for a laptop for your kid, then here’s another excellent option for you to consider besides the previously mentioned Samsung Chromebook 4. This Dell Chromebook offers the best warranty you can get in a $200 price range laptop, which includes unlimited accidental damage claims! Plus, it also features a highly kid-proof design.

So, it has an all-plastic body, but it is tough enough to meet MIL-STD standards. Apart from that, it features rubber edges which means less impact to the critical internals of the laptop during accidents. The kid-proof design features do not end here, it also features a spill-proof keyboard, and its ports have reinforced protection so that they can take more beating than usual.

Now, despite such strong build quality, if your kid still manages to break the laptop or if it stops working after an accident, then Dell would allow unlimited accidental damage claims!

However, it’s not all roses. Although the Dell Chromebook 3100 offers a reasonably powerful Intel Celeron N4020 processor paired with 4GB RAM, the onboard storage on the model that costs under $200 is just 16GB. That’s very less even for even school-going kids’ requirements. What’s even more disappointing, though, is it does not have an SD card slot to expand its low storage!

Of course, you can get more storage capacity by paying extra, but Samsung Chromebook 4 offers well-balanced specs and a kid-proof design for under $200. However, the warranty on this Dell is too good to be true, so if you can spare some more money, then this Dell Chromebook 3100 is a great pick for kids.

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So, these are the best laptops under $200 you can buy right now. As you can see, the sub-$200 price segment is mostly flooded with Chromebooks, and there are very few Windows laptop options. But there’s nothing wrong with that because Chromebooks make a lot of sense at this price range. However, depending upon the programs you want to run on your laptop, you might need a Windows laptop.

So if you are still confused and can’t decide which laptop to get, choosing between Chromebook or Windows laptop could be a great starting point. Below are some comparisons between Chromebooks and Windows laptops which shall help you to decide on one, and then we have also enlisted and briefed on the must-have features and things to look for when shopping for a laptop under $200.

Go through it to get all your questions answered, and if you still have any questions after that, feel free to ask us in the comments section below or contact our experts for laptop advice.

This in no way was the most comprehensive comparison between both the operating systems. Still, these critical differences will give you a good overall idea to decide between Chromebooks and Windows laptops when shopping for a laptop under $200.

If you have decided between Chromebook and Windows laptop, then below is the buying guide with all the things that you should check when shopping for a laptop under $200. You don’t need to go through it if you purchase any of our recommended laptops mentioned above, but if you like any laptop that’s not on our list, then before you purchase it, make sure to check it for the things that we have mentioned below.

Conclusion

So, that’s all you’ll need to check if you are planning to purchase a laptop under $200. Again, if you are buying any laptop from our top picks, you don’t need to check for these things.

Our top picks pass all these checks and more. We have carefully picked laptops by keeping the requirements of all types of users in mind, and accordingly, we have all kinds of laptops on our list (touchscreen, 2 in 1, and traditional laptops). We also have different sizes of notebooks (11-inch, 14-inch, 15-inch and 17-inch), and if you are buying it for your kid, then we have options for that as well.

So, we hope that this budget laptop buying guide helps you buy the best laptop under $200 for yourself. If you found it helpful, tell us about it in the comments section below, and consider sharing it with someone who might find it useful as well.

If you have any questions/doubts about our laptop recommendations or anything else that we mentioned in this guide, feel free to ask about it in the comments below.

Thanks for stopping by.

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