Best Chromebooks Under $300 in 2023
If you’re in search of a laptop that has all the features and performance you’d expect, here’s our guide to the best Chromebooks under $300. A laptop is an essential tool for many people, but not everyone needs the power or price tag that comes with a traditional computer or an alternative $1,000 laptop. A Chromebook is a great choice for budget shoppers and those who primarily use their laptops for browsing the web, checking emails, and light productivity tasks. Below is a list of the best Chromebooks under $300 for users to buy with ease. The best overall Chromebook is the Asus Chromebook Flip C434, which features a sleek design, a 360-degree hinge, and a 14-inch full HD touchscreen display.
When compared with other laptops or modern tablets, a Chromebook might appear a bit slower and more tedious. However, these computers have been built for portability and not too overly demanding on specs. So, with fewer high-end features, it will deliver a much better performance long term.
Products at a Glance
How we picked the best Chromebooks under $300
To choose the best Chromebook it’s important to determine what is an acceptable battery life and overall size for the end user. The main problem with these units is how their cost-cutting nature, delivering poor resolution qualities and dumbed-down battery capacities. We made sure to measure and compare these very aspects for each selection. So you can be sure that you’ll end up purchasing a reliable and strong Chromebook without spending more than $300.
Features and considerations
There are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind when shopping for the best Chromebooks under $300. Firstly, since these laptops run on Google’s Chrome OS operating system, you’ll want to make sure the apps and services you rely on are compatible. Secondly, Chromebooks tend to have smaller screens and keyboards than traditional laptops, so be sure to choose one that’s comfortable to use. Finally, keep in mind that battery life is often shorter on Chromebooks than on other types of laptops, so you may need to recharge the device more often.
There are two main types of Chromebooks: 2-in-1 Chromebooks and traditional clamshell Chromebooks. The former can be used as both a laptop and a tablet, while traditional clamshell Chromebooks are only laptops. 2-in-1 Chromebooks tend to be more expensive than traditional clamshell Chromebooks, however, with the latest upgrades in technology, there are some good 2-in-1 options on a budget.
Best Chromebooks Under $300 in 2023
- Incredible battery life
- Thin bezels
- Vivid touchscreen
- 2-in-1 model
- Touchpad could’ve been better
If you’re looking for a reliable, full-featured Chromebook that won’t break the bank, the Asus Chromebook Flip C434 is the perfect option. This machine has a 360-degree hinge and a 14-inch full HD touchscreen display (1920×1080) with 4-way NanoEdge, which gives it those thin bezels that almost any other device can’t reach. These design options make it suitable for both work and play. Additionally, its battery life is impressive for a Chromebook at an astounding 9 hours and 58 minutes.
Furthermore, the C434 is powered by the Intel Core m3-8100Y Processor running at 1.1 GHz, plus 4GB LPDDR3 RAM, and 128GB of flash storage. These specs provide not only a long and durable life but a great performance compared with other competitors on the market.
One of the best parts about this slate is its portability. ASUS managed to pack the 14-inch screen with a top keyboard on a 12.6 x 8 x 0.6-inch device that weighs no more than three pounds. You can carry this around without even thinking about it and work on it practically anywhere with no regard for the battery drying out.
- 12 hour battery life
- Powerful performance
- Nice webcam
- Big bezels
- Design could have been improved
Buying a Chromebook is a compromise. You want a device that is not going to cost you too much but still gives you enough power and comfort to complete your daily tasks. Thus, it’s important to know when is too low and when is too much. Samsung has shown to end those doubts.
The Samsung Chromebook 4 is one of the best Chromebooks under $300. Its main feature is the 11.6-inch HD LED display that gives you plenty of screen space to work with. This is a great choice for budget buyers who want a laptop that’s easy to carry around and has some power to offer. The Chromebook 4 also has a long battery life, so you can work all day without having to worry about recharging. The only downside is that it doesn’t have a touchscreen, so you’ll have to use the trackpad. For that price tag, nobody should be complaining.
The Samsung Chromebook 4 offers an Intel Celeron N3450 Processor with a 1.1 GHz rate. It also has 4GB of RAM, an integrated Intel UHD 600 graphic card, and 32GB of flash storage, which should be more than enough given that a majority of documents will be saved in the cloud.
- Great building materials
- Sturdy and lightweight
- Amazing keyboard
- Dim display
- Battery life is not that good
Owning a laptop, or in this case, a Chromebook is not all about specs and power. A design that attracts and excels with features you can feel are often the ones that seal the deal. Lenovo knows how to close those deals. Even though this is its low-entry line, it doesn’t skimp on the quality of materials behind this unit. The Lenovo Chromebook Flex 3 has one of the best keyboards under this price tag. The fast responsiveness of the keys also gives users an amazing experience on top of its sleek design.
This is the perfect Chromebook for students who are always on the go. It has a weight of only 2.4 pounds and is thin and light enough to carry around with you wherever you go. It also has an 11.6-inch IPS display (1366×768) that has a perfect resolution for reading, browsing the internet, and viewing documents.
- Long battery life
- Bright and colorful display
- Saggy keyboard
Considering all the features that the 2020 HP Chromebook 14 offers, it is no wonder that it stands as one of the best Chromebooks on the market. Some of its key features include a long battery life, a fast Intel processor, and a bright and colorful display. It is also one of the most affordable Chromebooks, making it a great choice for budget-minded buyers.
The HP Chromebook 14 has a 14-inch HD SVA Display (1366 x 768) which provides the best balance between battery drainage and screen clarity. Besides, it’s powered by the Intel Pentium Silver N5000 processor, a quad-core chip made for high-efficiency performances under ultra-low voltage platforms.
Moreover, the 2020 HP Chromebook has 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM, 64GB of eMMC flash memory, and an integrated Intel UHD 605 graphics card to give it a solid backbone for those nights of streaming videos, casual gaming, and light photo editing.
That’s all among the best Chromebooks under $300. These might not boast impeccable internals, but they still get the job done at an affordable rate. Giants in the fold, including Lenovo and Samsung, prove again and again to be at the top of their game in designing portable devices underpinned by Google’s OS. Any one of these will offer great price to performance metrics despite being situated under a mere $300.
What's the best brand of Chromebook to get?
All the brands are great at something, with some tailored more towards packing a punch for less, and others targeting the more premium market. We’d say that Samsung is a good option for most people that delivers on both fronts.
What is the downside of a Chromebook?
They don’t have a tonne of RAM, particularly powerful GPUs, or storage, and they’re also not great for gaming. On the other hand, for everyday tasks where you’re working online, they’re very good indeed. Check out the best gaming laptops under $600 if you’re interested in something higher performance, but still relatively affordable.
How much does a decent Chromebook cost?
We’ve found that if you’re looking for a Chromebook with increased performance and more features, a midrange Chromebook should cost in the region of $500.
Our Verdict
The ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 is a reliable and affordable Chromebook that is perfect for students and basic users. It features a fast Intel Celeron processor and a backlit keyboard that makes it easy to work in dark environments. The Flip C434 also comes with a stylus pen and a built-in webcam that makes it perfect for video conferencing. Overall, the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 is a great choice for anyone looking for a reliable and affordable Chromebook.