A budget-friendly laptop may not be able to run CPU/GPU intensive programs e.g. video editing, high-end gaming, or 3D modeling. Nonetheless, if you are someone who wants a laptop under $600 which is capable of performing daily tasks then we have good news for you! We have arranged a buying list of the best laptops under $600. The said budget is quite popular among college and school students due to high competition in this price bracket. The budget has many popular options to look for!
At a Glance:
Microsoft Surface Go
- Optional LTE connectivity
- Premium compact design
- Beautiful touch display with inking
- Great battery life
- IR camera for Windows Hello
Acer Aspire E 15
- Dedicated NVIDIA MX150 GPU
- 8th Gen Intel Core CPU options
- Full keyboard with number pad
- 15-inch FHD display
- A lot of ports, including optical drive
Chuwi LapBook Plus
- Attractive unibody aluminum design
- Enormous Precision touchpad
- Backlit keyboard with number pad
- 4K display with excellent color
- Decent port selection
| Design | Best Laptops | Retailer |
|---|---|---|
Best Pick | Check Price | |
Staff Pick | Check Price | |
Budget Pick | Check Price |
Microsoft Surface Go
Best PickThe top in our list is the Microsoft Surface Go, the laptop may not be as powerful in comparison to the other laptops about the spec sheet – but the offerings of the laptop outstand the downsides of it.
The laptop is equipped with a 1.6GHz Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y processor along with 128GB of SSD and 8 GB of RAM. The specifications of the laptop are enough to handle day-day tasks along with some light gaming. The laptop can survive almost a full day between charges with the addition of a 4G LTE feature. Besides, the display of the laptop is sufficiently bright with having 1800*1200 resolution. Also, the laptop is compatible with a surface pen to let the user have a great inking experience.
Specifications
- CPU: 1.6GHz Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 128GB SSD
- Display: 10-inch PixelSense (1800 x 1200)
- GPU: Integrated Intel HD Graphics 615
- Battery Life: Up to 9 hours
Pros
- Optional LTE connectivity
- Premium compact design
- Beautiful touch display with inking
- Great battery life
- IR camera for Windows Hello
Cons
- Limited ports
- Might not have enough power
Acer Aspire E 15
Staff PickThe Acer Aspire E 15 has a very reasonable and attractive price along with being a well-rounded and solid machine. The interesting fact is that it still features an optical drive for those users who use DVDs or discs. The laptop has a hefty amount of ports, so you can connect and enjoy your favorite accessories.
The laptop is equipped with an 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8250U CPU with an integrated NVIDIA MX150 GPU. Also, in terms of memory, the laptop features 8 GB of RAM along with 256GB of SSD. If you are someone who is into gaming but doesn’t want to spend a fortune on high-end or gaming-specific laptops, then Acer Aspire E 15 is a great alternative.
The laptop will let you enjoy a pretty satisfying and smooth gaming experience on non-demanding titles. The laptop will last for about 10 hours if you are not heavily using the system. Most commonly, you get an HD display with budget-oriented options but with this machine, you’ll get a 1080p panel with average color reproduction.
Specifications
- Processor Manufacturer: Intel®
- Processor Type: Core™ i5
- Processor Model: i5-8250U
- Processor Speed: 1.60 GHz
- Processor Core: Quad-core (4 Core™)
- Graphics Controller Manufacturer: NVIDIA®
Pros
- Dedicated NVIDIA MX150 GPU
- 8th Gen Intel Core CPU options
- Full keyboard with number pad
- 15-inch FHD display
- A lot of ports, including optical drive
Cons
- Relatively bulky size
- Display is average
Chuwi LapBook Plus
Budget PickChuwi’s LapBook Plus is a great option for such users who want to watch a lot of movies and TV on their laptops. The laptop is not capable enough to be used as a mainstream machine for specialized tasks. But it has a balance between performance and displays to such an extent that it can be used for productivity-based tasks. The laptop is equipped with an Intel Atom x7-E3950 processor along with 256 GB of SSD and 8GB of RAM. The main significant feature of the laptop is its 15.6-inch 4k display.
The machine has 72% AdobeRGB and 93% sRGB color reproduction. However, it doesn’t support touch pen functionality, so you can’t enjoy the inking experience. The display is capable enough to be used in a well-lit environment due to its 350 nits brightness. The design of the laptop is also quite sleek due to its unibody aluminum chassis.
The laptop is equipped with a precision touchpad for enhancing productivity along with a good backlight featured keyboard that has plenty of travel. The laptop is great for video streaming and will last you around 4 hours between charges thanks to its 36.5 Wh battery.
Specifications
- Display: 15.6 inches
- 3840 x 2160 (4K): Non-touch, glossy
- Processor: Intel Atom x7-E3950
- Four cores: Up to 2.0GHz
- RAM: 8GB LPDDR4
- Storage: 256GB M.2 SATA SSD
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 505
Pros
- Attractive unibody aluminum design
- Enormous Precision touchpad
- Backlit keyboard with number pad
- 4K display with excellent color
- Decent port selection
Cons
- Performance could be a lot better
- The camera and speakers are average
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 14
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 14 is not based on the conventional 2-in-1 detachable touchpad and keyboard. The laptop features a true convertible with hinges that can rotate 360 degrees. You can use the laptop as a tablet or as a tent by rotating the lid and display depending upon your requirements. The display of the laptop is 1080p and has a 14-inch form factor with a glossy finish. The laptop also features compatibility with an active pen but the user should expect great reproduction of color from it.
The hardware of the laptop is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5 3500U CPU along with integrated AMD graphics. The memory of the laptop is based upon 12 GB of RAM (DDR4) and 256 GB SSD (PCIe). The laptop can last up to 5 hours between charges which can be improved. However, the battery issue is covered by its fast charging capabilities. The laptop can achieve an 80% charge in less than an hour.
Specifications
- Processor: Up to AMD Ryzen™ 7 2700U Processor (2.20GHz, up to 3.80GHz with Max Boost, 4MB Cache)
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Display: 14″ HD (1366 x 768) IPS Glossy Multi-touch, 14″ FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS Glossy Multi-touch
- Graphics: Integrated AMD Graphics
- Camera: 720p HD with dual array microphone
- Memory: Up to 16 GB DDR4 2400 MHz
- Storage: Up to 256 GB PCIe SSD
Pros
- Attractive unibody aluminum design
- Enormous Precision touchpad
- Backlit keyboard with number pad
- 4K display with excellent color
- Decent port selection
Cons
- Performance could be a lot better
- The camera and speakers are average
Dell Inspiron 17 3785
Dell Inspiron 17 3785 is made for those people who think displays less than 17 inches are not worth looking at, be it may for media or productivity purposes. The laptop is equipped with a 17.3-inch IPS panel with an FHD display. The display of the laptop doesn’t feature touch control, hence the user can’t enjoy the inking experience. However, the display is big enough to support serious multitasking.
The laptop is based upon AMD CPU/GPU and in terms of memory performance, it features 1TB HDD and 12 GB RAM (DDR4). The CPU of the laptop is based upon four cores AMD Ryzen 5 2500U with a base clock speed of 3.6 GHz. The laptop has enough juice for supporting web browsing and word processing. Moreover, the laptop features a precise touchpad, a number pad, and a full-size backlit keyboard.
Specifications
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 2500U 113
- GPU: AMD Radeon RX Vega 3 211
- Display: 17.3”, HD+ (1600 x 900), TN, 17.3”, Full HD (1920 x 1080), IPS
- HDD/SSD: up to 1000GB SSD + up to 2000GB HDD
- RAM: up to 32GB
- OS: Windows 10 Home
- Dimensions: 415.4 x 279.2 x 25.6 mm (16.35″ x 10.99″ x 1.01″)
- Weight: 3.03 kg (6.7 lbs)
Pros
- Huge 17.3-inch display
- Strong performance and sizeable storage
- Plenty of ports
- Backlit keyboard and precision touchpad
Cons
- Introductory models have the low-res display
- The battery could be a lot better
HP 17-BY3613DX
The next in our buying list is the HP 17-BY3613DX which is a full-feature filled laptop in the given price bracket. The laptop features a 17.3-inch display with is a high-performing laptop. The form-factor of the laptop is massive with having high performing capabilities.
The laptop has a quad-core Intel i5 Ice Lake CPU in its heart along with an 8 GB Ram. Moreover, the laptop features an additional slot for allowing RAM to be expanded. The display of the laptop has an anti-glare feature in it provided to protect the user’s eyes. Moreover, the laptop has a high-performing 256GB SSD which enhances the overall stability and speed of the laptop. The machine is also loaded with a lot of ports so you can enjoy your favorite accessories.
Specifications
- Processor: Intel Core i5-1035G1 Quad-Core CPU (Turbo boost up to 3.6 GHz)
- RAM: 8GB DDR4 RAM
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics
- Display: 17.3-Inch HD+ Anti-Glare WLED-Backlit Display with 1600 x 900 Resolution
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home 64-bit
- Battery Life: Up to 5 hours
- Weight: 5.4 lbs
Pros
- Huge 17.3-inch display
- Strong performance and sizeable storage
- Plenty of ports
- Backlit keyboard and precision touchpad
Cons
- Introductory models have the low-res display
- The battery could be a lot better
Dell Inspiron 5593 15.6″ Touchscreen Laptop
The Dell Inspiron 5593 is a highly recommended choice in the mentioned price bracket. The laptop packs all the latest set of powerful hardware options along with offering a durable exterior. The laptop is equipped with the newest 10th generation Intel Core i5 processor along with a decent 8 GB of RAM. The RAM of the machine can be upgraded to 16 GB if required. The specifications of the laptop are enough powerful to support daily tasks along with light gaming and photo editing. Also, the laptop features dedicated Intel UHD 620 graphics.
The display of the laptop can be used in a well-lit environment and the display resolution is full HD. Also, the screen supports touch interaction so the user can enjoy the inking experience. The user can also select a configuration in which the model doesn’t feature the touch screen. The laptop can last around 5-6 hours between charges on normal use. The laptop is highly recommended for such users who want to access the latest features.
Specifications
- Processor: Intel Core i5-1035G1 Quad-Core Processor (Turbo up to 3.6GHz)
- RAM: 8GB DDR4 RAM (Upgradable up to 16GB)
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics
- Display: 15.6-Inch Full HD Anti-Glare Display with 1920 x 1080 Resolution
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home 64-bit OS
- Battery Life: Up to 6 hours
- Weight: 4.03 lbs
Pros
- Solid built quality and lightweight
- Very fast processor for handling day to day tasks including occasional gaming and heaving applications
- No serious heating issues unlike other Dell Inspiron laptops
Cons
- Average battery life (Should not be an issue for non-gamers)
- Speakers are not placed on the front side (Should not be an issue If the laptop is kept on a flat surface)
- The touchpad could have been more accurate. (I recommend using a wireless mouse but the touchpad is not bad as well)
Asus Chromebook Flip
The Asus Chromebook Flip isn’t on par with other laptops concerning power, but it makes up for this drawback with its exceptional portability. The Chromebook is convertible and has a 12.5-inch touchscreen, Intel M5 processor, and 4GB of RAM. The Chromebook can be converted into a writing tablet. The flash storage on this device is 64 GB, which is enough as most of the data nowadays is stored in the cloud. The laptop operates on Chrome OS, hence you’ll have to be comfortable with Google products for content creation. Also, the battery will last you 10 hours between charges, so you are covered in this department.
Specifications
- CPU: Intel Pentium 4405Y – Intel Core m36Y30
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 515:
- Screen: 12.5inch, FHD (1,920 x 1,080) LED backlit antiglare
- Storage: 32GB – 64GB eMMC
Pros
- Elegant tablet mode
- Tactile keyboard
Cons
- No out-of-box Android app support
- Middling speakers
Acer Chromebook R11
The best cheap laptop for writers available in the market includes the Acer Chromebook R11. The Chromebook operates on Chrome OS, so you need to be comfortable with window products. The laptop provides good performance despite having less capable and powerful components. Hence, as the laptop have less powerful components but better optimization it is relatively cheap. The touchscreen even though is only HD has decent performance. Also, the laptop can be flipped to be used as a touchscreen. The laptop has an excellent battery life and will cater to your needs for an entire day without requiring charging. Hence, if you are in the market for a cheap yet capable laptop that you can easily use for your writing needs, then the Acer Chromebook R11 is the one for you!
Specifications
- CPU: Intel Celeron N3150 1.6GHz – Intel Celeron N3160 1.6GHz
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics-Intel HD Graphics 400RAM: 2GB-4GB
- Screen: 11.6inch 1,366 x 768 HD IPS touchscreen
- Storage: 32GB
Pros
- Very versatile
- Very cheap
- Good battery life
Cons
- Awkward trackpad
Dell inspiration 15-5559
The Dell inspiration 15-5559 can provide the best performance when being used for office-related tasks. The laptop features an 8GB DDR4 ram with a clock frequency of 1600 MHz. The 15.6” full HD display shows clear images and the laptop is equipped with Intel HD Graphics 520 GPU. This machine is highly recommended for those freelancers who are into graphic designing. The storage capacity of the laptop is 1000GB which is enough concerning current standards.
Specifications
- CPU: Intel Celeron N3150 1.6GHz – Intel Celeron N3160 1.6GHz
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics-Intel HD Graphics 400RAM: 2GB-4GB
- Screen: 11.6inch 1,366 x 768 HD IPS touchscreen
- Storage: 32GB
Pros
- Durable looking body with nice design
- Comfortable keyboard
- Long surfing and gaming battery life
- Good internal and surface temperatures at high load
- 36 months Next Business Day warranty
Cons
- Arrow keys somewhat lacking in design
- Narrow viewing angles
- PWM across all brightness levels, except 100%