Best Chromebook Under $300 in 2021
It can sometimes be a struggle to find the right chromebook for you, especially when you’re on a budget.
- Last Updated Jun 3, 2021
For people who are looking for high quality laptops with a relatively low price tag, a chromebook is usually a great option. These laptops are packed with the most incredible technology and are truly reliable, both for casual and professional use.
While chromebooks are generally expensive, it goes without saying that some are considerably more expensive than others. This isn’t always ideal when you’re on a budget and you don’t have a lot of money to spend. Thankfully, we’ve written this guide to help you to buy the best possible chromebook for under $300. We’ve also covered our selection criteria to help you to make the best decision.
Products at a Glance
How We Picked
So, how did we choose the best chromebooks for under $300? There are a bunch of great chromebooks on the market, but they had to be truly spectacular to make this list. So, with that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of products that fit with our criteria. Is the chromebook affordable? Is it powerful enough, and how long does it last when it’s not charging? We’ve also taken some time to think about the other features that the chromebook offers, such as the connectivity or unique features such as tablet modes. In doing so, we’ve come up with the following list.
Best Chromebook Under $300 in 2021
Great battery life
Thin and lightweight
Good performance
The audio quality leaves a lot to be desired
There are very few budget chromebooks out there that are better than the Samsung Chromebook 4. This laptop is truly spectacular considering the price. For your money, you will get a fast and impressive performance. That, of course, is not all!
One of the key things worth noting about this chromebook is the stellar battery life. You can expect to get many hours of use out of this laptop, making it ideal for when you need to work away from home and don’t have access to the power supply. Thankfully, it’s made even more portable by the design. This chromebook is lightweight and thin, allowing you to slot it into your bag for easy transportation.
With this laptop, you can also expect a pretty great performance. It operates quickly, and you shouldn’t have to worry about waiting for long periods of time for pages to load. If you will be using the laptop for doing a lot of typing, you will also be happy with the keyboard. The keys are well spaced, making traveling between the keys totally seamless. Perhaps the only real issue is the fact that the audio isn’t the best. This issue is easily combated by connecting some separate speakers, however.
Screen Size: 15.6 Inches
Operating System: Chrome OS
Computer Memory Size: 4 GB
Screen Resolution: 1366 x 768 Pixels
Processor: 2.4 GHz celeron
RAM: 4 GB LPDDR4
Hard Drive: 32 GB Embedded MultiMediaCard
Average Battery Life (in hours): 10 Hours
Speedy operation
Large screen size
Great connectivity
Poor audio quality
This laptop is a pretty attractive model, but it’s great for more than just good looks! The laptop is known for having a large 15.6 inch touch screen display, making it ideal for tablet use and for viewing multiple things at once on the screen.
This chromebook runs incredibly quickly when you use it. It has a ChromeOS operating system that’s very speedy, in addition to a 2.5 GHz Intel Pentium processor. The 4GB of RAM also helps to make the laptop operate smoothly. For storage, you will have 64 GB of data. This certainly isn’t a lot, but thankfully you will have access to the cloud with your chromebook, which can solve the storage problem. You will also get a HD camera built into the laptop – perfect for those Monday morning Zoom calls!
The connectivity on this laptop is also pretty decent. You will get two Type-A USB 3.1 ports, a headphone and microphone jack and two USB 3.0 type C ports. Unfortunately, this is another laptop that has poor audio quality, but again, this is an issue that’s easily rectified.
Screen Size: 10.1 Inches
Operating System: Chrome OS
Computer Memory Size: 4 GB
Graphics: ARM G72 MP3 800GHz
Storage: 64 GB
Integrated Cameras: Rear: 8 MP auto-focus / Front: 2 MP fixed-focus with LED indicator
Battery: Up to 10 hours
Fantastic performance
Versatile – can be used as a tablet and a laptop
Great battery life
Portable
Only comes with a USB C port connection
Are you in the market for a fantastic 2 in 1 chromebook on a budget? Well, look no further than the Lenovo Chromebook Duet. This laptop has a lot to offer, so read on for more information!
To start with, this laptop has great battery life. With this laptop, you can easily do your work in university classes and when working away from home without panicking that your laptop is going to die soon. It is designed to be used both as a laptop and as a tablet, so it’s pretty versatile. As such, it comes with a cover and a keyboard that you can detach.
In terms of performance, you’re going to have good results with this laptop. It operates smoothly and efficiently, and it’s ideal for casual use. The only caveat is that the connectivity is a little limited. All you are going to get with this chromebook is just one USB-C port. This is a little disappointing, but otherwise, this tablet can serve you well for most of your needs.
Very affordable
Durable
Comfortable to type on
The graphics could be better, though they are suitable for a laptop at this price
The Dell Chromebook 11 is one of the most affordable chromebooks on the market, so it’s definitely worth considering if you’re on a budget. With this laptop, you’re getting a high quality device with impeccable performance.
In fact, this is actually a great laptop for young children since it’s super durable. It’s made with US Military MIL-STD durability. It feels just as sturdy as it looks, and you can easily carry it anywhere with you without worrying about it getting damaged as you knock it about.
It’s also incredibly easy to type on it thanks to the travel between the keys. You will get a decent screen display, though it’s best not to expect crystal clear graphics like you would get on a laptop that’s quadruple the price. Otherwise, it’s a great laptop with a good performance that you can rely on.
Screen Size: 14 Inches
Computer Memory Size: 4 GB
Screen Resolution: 1366 x 768 Pixels
Processor: 1.1 GHz celeron_n
Memory Speed: 2.6 GHz
Hard Drive: Embedded MultiMediaCard
Operating System: Chrome OS
Average Battery Life (in hours): 13.5 Hours
Great trackpad and keyboard
Responsive
Good display
The battery life isn’t the best
Last but not least on our list is the HP Chromebook 14. This chromebook comes in a pretty cool blue color, which will certainly stand out as you are using it! Of course, the vivid color of the design is not the only thing to love about this laptop.
The laptop comes with fantastically clear visuals, allowing you to see the things on the screen with optimal clarity. It’s very fast and responsive, so you don’t need to wait for long periods of time for the chromebook to load various pages. You will also enjoy typing on it, thanks to the well spaced keys and the trackpad that works like a dream.
Perhaps the biggest issue with this laptop is that the battery life isn’t nearly as good as many of the other options on this list. Nevertheless, this laptop is great if you want a reliable option.
Things To Consider
Our Verdict
So we’ve reached the end of this buying guide for the best Chromebook under $300. Although all the Chromebooks on show are pretty fantastic options, we think that the standout choice and the one you should pick up if you’re on that $300 budget, is the Samsung Chromebook 4.