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Best all-round budget laptop

The Surface Laptop Go isn’t the cheapest laptop on this list, but it’s arguably the best and it’s still very affordable. It’s packing an 10th Generation i5 Intel Core processor, which is comfortably powerful enough to coast through basic productivity tasks such as browsing the web, filling up word documents and watching Netflix. 

Weighing just 1.1kg and having a compact 12.4-inch display, the Surface Laptop Go easily fits into most bags too, making it a good option for those who work on the go, whether you’re commuting to an office or hopping between university lecture halls. 

Its biggest flaws are a sub-par resolution which isn’t ideal for video content, as well as the omission of a keyboard backlight for late night use. But if you just want one of the best Windows 10 laptops round for a super-affordable price, the Surface Laptop Go is our top recommendation.

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full review: Surface Laptop Go review

Best 2-in-1 budget laptop

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is one of the cheaper options in this list. During testing we found it is a fantastic option for those who want a basic productivity performance. The Lenovo Chromebook Duet also boasts a fantastic battery life and a lovely Full HD display, making it a great value laptop option worth considering. 

There is a slight catch, as this isn’t a traditional clamshell laptop but rather a tablet bundled with a keyboard accessory – think iPad with an optional keyboard attachment, but at a far more affordable price point, using ChromeOS instead of iPadOS. 

Having a detachable screen means this is a very versatile gadget, allowing you to use it as a tablet for watching YouTube or reading the news, but with the added ability to snap the screen back into its keyboard as soon as you need to do some serious work. We did find the keyboard slightly cramped compared to proper clamshell laptops, but it still does a commendable job. If you’re looking for a 2-in-1 laptop at an affordable price, this is your best bet.

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full review: Lenovo Chromebook Duet

Best 14-inch budget laptop

The Honor MagicBook 14 (2020) is another Windows 10 laptop that might seem a little pricey for this list. However, its specs are so good that you’re getting incredibly good value for the money, with a AMD Ryzen 5 processor that’s easily fast enough to power through any of your day-to-day productivity tasks. 

Unlike the Surface Laptop Go, you’re getting a crystal clear 14-inch matte display here, making it a superb option for watching films, TV and your favourite YouTube channels. During testing we found its screen is not as bright as some other laptop picks, but you’ll need to pay significantly more for better quality. 

The MagicBook has also got more storage space than Microsoft’s laptop, making it ideal if you plan on downloading lots of video and don’t want to rely on cloud services for student and office work. 

The biggest issue with the Honor MagicBook 14 (2020) is its webcam, as it’s positioned underneath the display and so gives an unflattering view up your nostrils. This is an especially annoying flaw during a time where video calls are the norm. But if you’re willing to look past this issue, the MagicBook is an outrageously good value laptop.

Reviewer: Adam Speight
Full review: Honor MagicBook 14 (2020)

Best 15-inch budget Chromebook

The Acer Chromebook 315 is the most affordable laptop on this list by a considerable margin. It’s a proper Chromebook, which means all apps have to be downloaded through Google’s own store. But thanks to this streamlined software approach, the Acer offers smooth and reliable performance for basic productivity tasks such as web surfing and reading emails. 

This laptop also has a large Full HD screen, measuring in at 15.6-inches. A big display not only makes it easier to juggle more web browsers and apps on screen, but also makes it a good option for video streaming. 

The downside? It’s a very large and hefty laptop, making it unideal for those who want to port around in a bag frequently. The poor battery life we found during testing only emphasises the idea that this is a laptop best kept rooted to your desk. 

But if you want a laptop that’s as cheap as possible, and don’t care about its portability flaws, then the Acer Chromebook 315 is still a decent option to consider.

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full review: Acer Chromebook 315

Most powerful Chromebook with convertible design

The Lenovo Ideapad Flex 5 Chromebook is one of the most powerful Chromebooks you can buy, packing Intel’s 10th Generation i5 processor so it can pace through day-to-day tasks. 

It’s also flaunting a 2-in-1 design, allowing you to flip into tablet mode for whenever you want to watch a video or scroll through Instagram. Lenovo’s Chromebook also features a fantastic battery life and a comfortable keyboard, making it ideal for student and office goers.

However, at this price, you could argue that you might as well buy a Windows laptop instead. This means the Lenovo is only worth considering if you’re not fussed about the restrictions of ChromeOS. 

Reviewer: Andrew Williams
Full review: Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5