10 Best Laptops Under $400 In 2025-26

Every day, laptop technology advances, and it can be very challenging to discover the best laptop under $400. My sister needs to use her computer for some college work and streaming videos; therefore, I was looking for the best laptop under $400 a few days ago. It was challenging to choose the ideal laptop for her. There are a lot of factors to take into account while looking for a computer, but the most crucial ones are the brand, cost, and features.

Ten years ago, there were only a few brands and models available. That is no longer the case. Other brands now offer different tech. When purchasing a laptop, I take into account the brand, processor, RAM, operating system, graphics card, and display quality. Now that I’ve gone through all that trouble, I hope that no one has to go through as much work to discover the most excellent laptop for less than $400.

Finding a good laptop is simple if you know what you need, which will help you get the best deal. However, sometimes we end up being highly confused by the frequent upgrades that appear the same.

Please don’t worry. I’ve taken care of you.

I’ll make sure you understand precisely what you need and which laptop is the best under $400 in this post. I’ll offer you a few recommendations that are worthwhile enough to consider when purchasing a computer for less than $400.

If you have a $400 budget, you will have to make some compromises on specifications like the laptop’s processor and storage because these factors significantly affect the cost. However, with our guide to the best laptops under $400, you can still get a perfect laptop, so don’t hesitate any longer and let’s get started.

A Guide to Purchasing the Best Laptop Under $400

There are a few key considerations to make when purchasing the best laptop under $400. Even if you’re getting a great deal at this price, you have to realise that not everything can be bought with this budget. Some high-end functions may be absent if you choose the best laptop under $400.

A laptop under $400 might not include features like a flagship processor, biometric authentication, an SSD, a large RAM capacity, or a high-end screen. We have recommended high-quality laptops that aim to offer a lot of high-end features within your price range.

You must be certain that your budget is $400 or less when purchasing a laptop under that amount. We recommended laptops because they are available in both scenarios. Several laptops are marginally more or less than $400.

When purchasing a laptop, be careful to review all of the options we have offered before choosing one. A hastily made decision is rarely accurate. Links to the best deals on the different options have been supplied.

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Best laptops under $400

I’ve hand-picked ten recommendations for the best laptops under $400 for you in this list. These are a few of the best choices from leading brands.

Flex 14 2-in-1 Convertible Laptop by Lenovo

Because of its effectiveness as a touch screen tablet and laptop, the Lenovo Flex 14 2-in-1 convertible laptop is included in our list of the greatest laptops under $400.

The laptop’s AMD Ryzen 5 3500U processor is a potent processor that may provide you with a lot of gaming options in addition to gaming. A 14-inch FHD touchscreen display is included with the laptop.

Description of Features

Advantages

• lightning-fast charging speed
• Excellent processor and RAM, backlit keyboard
• Compact and appealing design

Drawbacks

• Due to the touchscreen and convertibility, it must be utilised carefully.

Conclusion:

This laptop is a great bargain, and if you’re searching for a computer that costs more than $500, you should definitely consider purchasing it. However, it’s essential to keep in mind that convertible computers must be handled quite carefully.

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Acer Aspire 1 A115-31-C2Y3 is the best overall.

The Acer Aspire 1 A115-31-C2Y3 is an excellent value for the Money at only $274.80. It offers everything you could need for simple work, or for someone who enjoys streaming videos and doing simple office or schoolwork.

This laptop is the best under $400 because it has an Intel Celeron N4020 processor, which will easily provide you with a relatively significant and lag-free work experience. In addition, it has 4 GB DDR4 RAM and should last 10 hours on a single charge.

Description of Features

Advantages

• Exceptionally affordable
• Full HD and wide-angle display
• Compact and light in weight
• Compact and appealing design drawbacks

Cons

• Poor webcam quality and a mediocre CPU

Its price justifies this laptop’s features. Given how much a computer costs, you might not expect it to do demanding activities, yet with frequent use, it performs faultlessly.

Lenovo IdeaPad 2023 AMD A6-9220e laptop

The most recent Lenovo Ideapad model from 2023, which has an AMD A6-9220e processor, is the second laptop on our list. The processor is designed to provide you with lightning-fast performance.

Additionally, you can anticipate that the processor will offer you a limited range of gaming capabilities. Games such as Grand Theft Auto V can be played at the lowest possible settings.

At $192, the laptop is in our list of the Best Laptops Under $400 on Amazon. The computer can easily perform a few jobs because it also includes 4GB DDR4 RAM.

Description of Features

Advantages:

• Small and light
• A one-year membership to Microsoft Office 365 is free.
• Excellent for simple tasks
• Compact and appealing design

Drawbacks

• may occasionally lag
• Average battery backup time (about five to six hours)

Conclusion:

Although the laptop comes with a one-year subscription to Microsoft Office 365, which makes it slightly less expensive, you may still choose to buy it or forego it entirely. The laptop is suitable for basic use at home or at the office, but you might not expect much from it.

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High-Performance HP 14-inch Laptop

The HP 14-inch High-Performance Laptop, which boasts an AMD Ryzen 3 3200-U processor, is a competitive contender in our list of the best laptops under $400 because it can do light but graphically demanding jobs and numerous workloads with good performance.

The laptop has a 128 GB SSD and 4GB DDR4 RAM, which allows it to store data effectively and boot up swiftly. The laptop’s 14-inch display is likewise excellent. On our list, this is the first laptop with an SSD.

Qualities Description

Advantages

• Robust construction quality.
• Excellent screen quality.
• SSD with 128 GB.

Drawbacks

• Poor memory.
• The processor is not the newest.
• Heavy.

Conclusion:

On our list of the top laptops under $400, the HP 14-inch High-Performance Laptop is a decent rival. Although the computer is well-built and has a powerful processor, its insufficient memory may cause you to need additional flash drives.

If you are thinking about purchasing the finest laptop for less than $400, you should definitely give this a try.

HP 14-inch HD WLED backlit business laptop with high performance

Due to its excellent processor, the HP 14-inch HD WLED Backlit High-Performance Business Laptop, which retails for $399, is unquestionably a contender for a spot in our list of the Best laptops under $400.

With regular and slightly heavy usage, this laptop won’t let you down. It has an AMD Athlon Silver 3050 U processor, which is an average processor that can handle some heavy tasks. However, given the price, you shouldn’t expect it to provide a gaming laptop experience.

In addition, the laptop has a 128 GB SSD, DDR4 4GB RAM, and a 14-inch diagonal HD display.

Description of Features

Advantages

• Portable and lightweight design.
• Extended battery life.
• Excellent construction quality.

Drawbacks

• Becomes sluggish with prolonged use.
• No specific keypad for numbers.

Conclusion:

Although the price is a little high, this laptop is a solid buy for everyday use. This laptop may have been a great deal if it had been priced between $70 and $80 cheaper, but you might still want to buy it.

The ASUS VivoBook 15

At $368, this laptop is an excellent deal for the Money. Despite being more expensive than $400, it still makes it onto our list of the best laptops under $400 because it is easily obtainable for about $400 during discounts.

Everything a person in the office or a college student may need is on the laptop. It has a fingerprint sensor for further protection, a broad 15.6-inch FHD screen with skinny bezels, and an Intel Core i3 10th-generation processor.

Features and Details

Advantages

• Backlit Keyboard
• sensor for fingerprints
• A good processor
• Lightweight and fashionable

Drawbacks

• Poor viewing angles
• Tiny keys
• Sometimes unresponsive

Conclusion

In addition to having a strong processor and improved security with a fingerprint sensor, the laptop is lovely.

The display’s quality is the only thing that worries me. If you find a discount of about $400, you should get this.

Lenovo IdeaPad S340

The Lenovo Ideapad S340’s small, stylish appearance and powerful processor allow it to be included in our list of the greatest laptops under $400. With its Intel Core i3 8145U processor, the Lenovo Ideapad S340 can manage nearly any task a student or worker would undertake.

To work at night without turning on the lights, this laptop also features a backlit keyboard. The computer has a great screen and low bezels.

Description of Features

Advantages

• Fantastic Processor.
• Lightweight and streamlined.
• Excellent screen quality.
• The keyboard is backlit.

Drawbacks

• Limited battery life.
• Poor quality webcam.

Conclusion:

This laptop appeals to me because of its good screen and stylish design. I suggest purchasing this laptop since it has a strong processor and an SSD.

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The Lenovo Ideapad 3

The Lenovo Ideapad 3 is a relatively small and practical laptop that costs $280.99. The laptop’s excellent characteristics, which include a nice screen and a suitable processor, place it on our list of the best laptops under $400.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3500U processor in the laptop can run demanding games at low graphics settings. In addition, the laptop boasts a 256 GB SSD, 8GB DDR4 RAM, and AMD Vega 8 GPU.

Description of Features

Advantages

• Excellent processor that can handle mild gaming as well.
• Good screen quality.
• A sophisticated appearance.

Cons

• 256 GB SSD
• Average Backup Battery
• Poor thermals.

Conclusion:

One of the greatest laptops I’ve evaluated in this post is the Lenovo Ideapad 3. This laptop is a must-have, even though it is a little pricey. It has you covered for everything.

The Surface Go from Microsoft

The Microsoft Surface Go, which retails for $349, combines the best features of Microsoft with a sleek and potent Pentium Go CPU. It can be used as a tablet and a laptop.

It is functional and has a portable detachable keyboard and a multipurpose stylus pen. The laptop has a good battery backup and can be utilised for both office and academic work.

The setup is lightweight, but due to its peculiar design, there is no room for gaming.

Description of Features

Advantages

• Convertible, lightweight, and portable
• Excellent screen quality, powerful processor,

drawbacks

• Absence of a USB-A port
• The stylus pen and keyboard are offered separately.

Conclusion

It isn’t worth the Money, given the features and pricing.

The keyboard and pen are offered separately, which is an additional cost that is somewhat required, but you should expect it if you’re searching for a convertible laptop with a strong processor.

Acer Chromebook Spin 11 Convertible Laptop CP311-1H-C5PN

On our list, this is the first and last Chromebook.

At $249, the Acer Chromebook Spin is a good value; its Chrome OS is the one thing that worries me. When it comes to software availability and ease of use, ChromeOS falls short of Windows.

With its mediocre Intel Celeron processor, the laptop is suitable for usage in offices and classrooms, but gaming is not expected.

Description of Features

Advantages

• A laptop that can be converted
• 100 GB of cloud storage on Google Drive
• Compact and light in weight

Cons

• average processor
• Absence of Windows-Specific Applications
• Less Storage

Conclusion:

A Chromebook is very specialised; it lacks the feel of a standard laptop and does not support Windows-specific software. Although the price is reasonable, consider whether you’re prepared to operate a Chromebook before making a purchase.

FAQs About Best Laptops Under $400

1. Can I really get a good laptop under $400?

Yes. While you won’t get high-end gaming or premium ultrabooks in this price range, you can find solid budget laptops for basic tasks like browsing, streaming, office work, and light school use.

2. What type of laptops can I expect under $400?

Common options include:

• Chromebooks – fast, lightweight, and great for students.
• Windows laptops – budget models from brands like HP, Dell, Lenovo, and Acer.
• Refurbished or older models – sometimes mid-range laptops sold cheaper.

3. Are Chromebooks better than Windows laptops under $400?

It depends:

• Chromebooks: Faster, lightweight, and excellent for internet-based tasks, but limited offline software.
• Windows laptops: More versatile, runs apps like Microsoft Office, Photoshop, and supports more storage upgrades.

4. Which brands make the best laptops under $400?

Some trusted brands in this range are:

• Acer (Aspire, Chromebook series)
• HP (Stream, Pavilion budget line)
• Lenovo (IdeaPad, Chromebook)
• Dell (Inspiron entry-level)
• ASUS (VivoBook, Chromebook Flip)

5. What specs should I look for in a laptop under $400?

• Processor: Intel i3, Ryzen 3, or newer Celeron/Pentium for basics.
• RAM: At least 4GB (8GB preferred).
• Storage: SSD (128GB or 256GB is ideal).
• Screen: 13–15 inches, Full HD if possible.
• Battery life: Aim for 6–10 hours.

6. Can I play games on a laptop under $400?

You can play light or casual games (Minecraft, Roblox, Among Us, League of Legends). Don’t expect heavy AAA titles or high-end graphics—these laptops aren’t built for gaming.

7. Are refurbished laptops under $400 worth it?

Yes. Refurbished laptops from trusted sellers (Amazon Renewed, Best Buy, or manufacturer-certified outlets) often give you better specs for the same price compared to brand-new budget laptops.

8. Do laptops under $400 last long?

If properly cared for, yes. Expect 3–5 years of use for schoolwork, browsing, or light office tasks. Performance depends on specs and whether you keep the system optimized.

9. Is a $400 laptop good for students?

Definitely. Many students use Chromebooks or budget Windows laptops for assignments, Zoom classes, and Google Docs. Just ensure it has enough RAM and a good battery life for portability.

10. Where can I buy the best laptops under $400?

• Amazon (great deals and refurbished options)
• Best Buy (student discounts, open-box deals)
• Walmart (budget-friendly Chromebooks & Windows laptops)
• Manufacturer websites (HP, Dell, Lenovo often run sales)

Final Thought

This list has been hand-picked for you by me. Some laptops are there due to their special qualities, but the majority of them justify their price. You may have a clear idea of what the best laptop under $400 is if you’ve followed this post through to the conclusion.