Quick Links
Buying a new laptop can be an exciting time, especially if you have a keen interest in computers in general. It's the feeling of having a brand-new machine that does exactly what you want, faster than your old laptop did. But for as exciting as it can be, many of the best laptops are not cheap, so finding the right one isn't always easy if you have a tight budget. That's why we have lists focusing on the best cheap laptops you can buy today, and in this particular one, we're going to focus on laptops that cost under $600.
The $600 price point is a very reasonable one, but it's also a range where it really pays to keep an eye out for deals. Many of the laptops below this price outside of sales aren't amazing, but if you wait it out for some discounts, you can find some real gems. That's what we did for this list, so keep in mind that while most of the laptops here do cost $600 or less at writing time, that's dependent on sales, so that price may have changed in the meantime.
Best overall: Dell Inspiron 16
Many users, myself included, find that a 15-inch laptop is the perfect size, and if that's the case for you, then the Dell Inspiron 16 is probably the best option you can get right now. This is a 16-inch laptop, but it has a size that's more like a typical 15-inch laptop because it has a 16:10 aspect ratio. Plus, it has current specs and it's a solid laptop all around. Officially, it costs more than $600, but with an ongoing deal at writing time, you can get it for $550, which is a great deal.
Performance-wise, the Dell Inspiron 16 comes with some very good specs, starting with an Intel Core i5-1235U, which gets you 12 cores, 12 threads, and boost speeds up to 4.4GHz. Plus, Intel Iris Xe graphics help with some GPU workloads, too. On top of that, you get 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD in the base model, which is more storage than you'll get with almost any competing laptop in this price range, so this is a really good deal.
And that continues with the display. There aren't a ton of laptops in this price range that are already adopting a 16:10 aspect ratio, but that's exactly what you get with the Inspiron 16. This is a 16-inch panel, but because of that taller aspect ratio, the laptop as a whole feels more like a 15-inch laptop. In terms of format, 16:10 is taller than 16:9, but not as tall as 3:2, but because this is a large screen, that aspect ratio makes it feel that much bigger. Plus, it comes in Full HD+ (1920 x 1200) resolution, so it's pretty sharp,
The Dell Inspiron 16 is also going to be one of the very few laptops on this list to have a 1080p webcam, which is a big plus if you're planning on making video calls or participating in online meetings regularly. Most cheap laptops have 720p cameras which simply aren't as good, so that's a big plus here.
In terms of design, the Dell Inspiron 16 is as standard as they come, but that might not be a bad thing necessarily. It's a silver laptop without much in the way of flair, and while that's not exciting, it also means you won't get any weird looks when you pull it out in public. The laptop does look very sleek, though. It weighs 4.12 pounds, so it's not super light, but it's not too bad for a laptop of this size, and the 18.3mm of thickness at its thickest point are also par for the course.
Finally, you get a solid selection of ports with this laptop. That includes one USB Type-C port, two USB Type-A ports, HDMI, a headphone jack, and a full-size SD card slot. That gives you plenty of options for peripherals, so you probably won't need any adapters or hubs anytime soon.
Realistically, the biggest downside with this laptop is that the current deal might end, and it will cost significantly more than $600 outside of a sale. But if you can find it discounted (which we have a few times), this is definitely one of the laptops you can get for under $600.
Dell Inspiron 16 (5620)
The Dell Inspiron 16 is a great and affordable laptop with 12th-generation Intel Core processors and a tall 16:10 display.
- Tall 16:10 display
- 12th-generation Intel Core processors
- Premium aluminum chassis
- 1080p webcam
- The display only reaches 250 nits
- A little heavy
- Too expensive when it's not on sale
Best convertible: HP Pavilion x360 14
If you're like me, the thought of buying a laptop that isn't a convertible is probably preposterous. And while convertibles can be expensive, the HP Pavilion x360 14 is going for a bit less than $600 right now, and it tends to be fairly cheap in general. Despite that, it has some solid specs and it's going to serve you very well.
Starting with performance, the HP Pavilion x360 14 comes with 12th-generation Intel processors, specifically starting with an Intel Core i5-1235U, a 10-core, 12-thread processor with boost speeds up to 4.4GHz. That's a very fast processor already and it also includes Intel Iris Xe graphics, making it suitable for some light GPU workloads. Additionally, it comes with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, which is a very good starting point for a laptop at this price.
The display on this model is also very sharp, coming in at Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio. This makes it one of the better options for watching movies and videos, and it's the more common aspect ratio at this price. The screen goes up to 250 nits of brightness, so it's not great for outdoor use, but if you're mostly indoors, it should work just fine. As it's a convertible, of course, the laptop supports touch, but also pen input, and an active pen is even included in the box.
A common sacrifice with laptops at this price is going to be the webcam, and this one is a 720p camera, as you'd probably expect. There's an option for a 5MP webcam, but you need to also add cellular network support, which makes this a much more expensive laptop. There's no Windows Hello facial recognition here, but you do get a fingerprint reader if you want an easier way to unlock the PC.
The HP Pavilion x360 is a fairly standard-looking convertible, though it does come in silver and gold color options if you want that choice. It's not extremely portable, weighing 3.35 pounds, but it's not far from what you'd expect from a convertible of this size. It's also not very thin, measuring 18.8mm, but it could be worse. While it won't win any awards for being thin and light, you can take this laptop anywhere without too much of a hassle, and it's not bad for a convertible.
As for ports, you get one USB Type-C port, two USB Type-A ports, HDMI, a headphone jack, and a microSD card reader. This is a solid setup that covers most basic needs, and the lack of Thunderbolt support is to be expected at this price, so you can't really complain. If you have a peripheral, odds are it will work It's worth mentioning again that there is also an option to configure the Pavilion x360 14 with cellular network support, specifically 5G. However, this makes the laptop much more expensive, as we've said above. Still, if you want a cheap 5G laptop, it might be one of your best options.
This configuration with an Intel Core i5 processor and a Full HD display typically has an official price of $800, but it's currently down to just $570, and for that price, this is a bargain. You get great performance, a sharp display, and the convenience of a convertible. Of course, because it's a sale, you might not always find it at this price, but right now, this is one of the best laptops you can get for under $600.
HP Pavilion x360 14
The HP Pavilion x360 14 is a great budget convertible with solid specs and a sharp display.
- Convertible form factor is more versatile than a typical laptop
- 12th-gen Intel processors
- Optional 5G (if you can afford it)
- Two color options
- Base model comes with an Intel Core i3
- 720p webcam by default
Best laptop with a 3:2 display: Surface Laptop Go 2
Microsoft's Surface lineup has some great premium devices, but in the past few years, it's also received some solid budget options. For those who want a premium-feeling laptop without spending a lot, the Surface Laptop Go 2 is one of the best laptops you can find for under $600, especially with the current discounts.
Starting with performance, the Surface Laptop Go is powered by an Intel Core i5-1135G7. That's not Intel's latest and greatest processor, but it's still a quad-core, eight-thread CPU, and it can boost up to 4.2GHz. That's going to give you some solid performance in day-to-day tasks like school work, browsing the web, and writing documents, plus you get Intel Iris Xe graphics for some light GPU workloads. The base configuration costs $549.99, and that includes 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD, which isn't amazing. Thankfully, you can often find the 8GB model discounted to just under $600, so that's definitely worth springing for.
The Surface Laptop Go also has a 3:2 aspect ratio for the display, just like all the other Surface devices. This is significantly taller than a typical 16:9 display, meaning you get much more vertical space, which is great for productivity since you can see more on a page without having to scroll, for example. It comes in an odd resolution, 1536 x 1024, which is below Full HD. However, considering this is a 12.4-inch panel, it's still going to look plenty sharp, just not as much as the more premium Surface devices. The screen also supports touch, but not the Surface Pen, which is surprising for a Surface device. Admittedly, using a pen on a regular laptop wouldn't be an ideal experience.
Surface devices typically have some of the best webcams of any Windows laptop, but unfortunately, that's not the case with the Surface Laptop Go 2. Like many other cheap laptops, it has a 720p camera, and perhaps even more surprising is the fact that there's no Windows Hello facial recognition. If you get the mid-tier model, you do get a fingerprint reader for Windows Hello.
In terms of the design, the Surface Laptop Go 2 changes things up in the materials used compared to other Surface devices. The lid is made from aluminum, while the base is made from a polycarbonate resin with glass fiber, and it comes in four colors to choose from — the signature Platinum, Matte Black, Sandstone, and Sage. It still looks very much like a Surface device, even if it's not quite as premium. It's a fairly thin laptop, measuring just 15.69mm, and it weighs 2.48 pounds, so it's very portable in general, and one of the lightest laptops on this list.
As for ports, you get one USB Type-C, one USB Type-A, a Surface Connect port for charging and docking, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. This is a decent setup, but the lack of a traditional display output and Thunderbolt may be a bummer to some. It's definitely in line with other Surface devices in terms of ports, which isn't necessarily a good thing, but it's serviceable.
Overall, the Surface Laptop Go is a premium-looking laptop that's very portable and packs solid performance. The mid-tier model is available for just under $600 at Best Buy right now, and it's one of the best laptops around. If you're fine with getting the base configuration, you can find it on Microsoft's website.
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
The Surface Laptop Go 2 doesn't have the most powerful processors around, but the 3:2 display helps it be portable while still offering a great experience, plus it has solid build quality.
- 12.4-inch 3:2 display helps with portability while being great for work
- Premium and lightweight design
- Solid performance across the board with an Intel Core i5
- Base model has just 4GB of RAM
- 720p webcam and no facial recognition
- 11th-gen Intel processor is starting to age
- The display resolution could be higher
Best 17-inch laptop under $600: HP Laptop 17
Some users just want to have a big screen to work on or watch movies in, and if you're a fan of large 17/inch laptops, then the HP Laptop 17 is your best option right now. Because of its larger size, it does make some sacrifices to get under $600 (and even then, it's only because it's on sale), but it's still a great machine.
For starters, the HP Laptop 17 is powered by 12th-generation Intel Core processors, and the base model includes an Intel Core i5-1235U, with 10 cores and 12 threads, plus boost speeds up to 4.4GHz. That's a very capable processor with Intel Iris Xe graphics. You also get 8GB of RAM out of the box along with a 256GB SSD, which is about as great as you can expect for a laptop at this price.
Aside from the size, the display is a downside of this laptop. The base model comes in 1600 x 900 resolution, and while that's higher than some other budget laptops in smaller sizes, it's still not great for a screen this large. There is an option to upgrade to a Full HD panel, and if you can afford it, we definitely recommend doing so. Another potential downside is the 720p webcam, though this is very common for the laptops on this list.
In terms of design, the HP Laptop 17 isn't winning any awards. It looks about as you'd expect an HP laptop to look like, though it does come in a more interesting Jet Black colorway with white speckles if you want something less boring. Being such a large laptop makes it hard to very portable, so it starts at 5.25 pounds of weight, and it's just under 20mm thick.
As for ports, you get a decent supply here with one USB Type-C and two Type-A ports, along with HDMI and a headphone jack. It's nothing too impressive, but it should get the job done for most users, though it's worth noting most ports are on the same side of the laptop, which isn't always very convenient.
Officially, the HP Laptop costs just over $700, but at writing time, it's going for just $450, which is an incredible deal. You can even upgrade to a better display and still be within the $600 budget this way, so we definitely recommend it.
HP Laptop 17
The HP Laptop 17 offers very capable processors and a large display for users who want a more immersive experience, though the resolution is low.
- 12th-gen Intel Core i5 and 8GB of RAM in the base model
- Jet Black colorway is more interesting than most
- Large 17-inch display can be more immersive
- The base resolution is too low
- A bit too heavy
- Costs well over $600 outside of sales
Extra cheap 15-inch laptop: Lenovo IdeaPad 1
If you're looking for something even cheaper than the options above, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 may be just what you need. This 15-inch laptop is one of the first to be powered by AMD's Mendocino platform, so while it's not a top-tier performer, it does have some things going for it, and it costs under $400, even without any sales.
Indeed, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 is powered by an AMD Athlon 7220U, which is a dual-core, four-thread processor that can boost up to 3.7GHz. It's not going to blow your mind, but it can handle things like web browsing just fine, and a notable benefit of it is that it has AMD Radeon Graphics 610M. This RDNA2-based integrated GPU actually has a bit more power than most processors in this price bracket, so if you want to run some light older games on the cheap, this is one of your best options. You also get 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD, which is very reasonable for this price point. More capable configurations are likely to show up in the future, too.
Turning to the display, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 comes with a very solid offering. This 15.6-inch panel comes in Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080) by default, which is frankly great to see in such a cheap laptop. Many models that cost more have a lower resolution. Of course, it's not super bright or color accurate, but most of the laptops on this list don't check those boxes either. Additionally, you get a 720p webcam with a privacy shutter.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 is also decent in terms of portability. It comes in at 3.48 pounds of weight, and for a budget 15-inch laptop, that's very reasonable. It's also 17.9mm thick, which isn't bad at all. Currently, the only model available comes in Storm Grey, but Lenovo has also announced Abyss Blue and Sand color options, so you can get something more unique if you'd like.
The port selection isn't bad, either. You get one USB Type-C and two Type-A ports, HDMI, a headphone jack, and a full-size SD card reader, which is something of a rare sight at this price. It's a very well-rounded setup for such a cheap laptop.
For $400, this is a very good laptop, and if you want something a bit more powerful, higher-end configurations will likely show up in the next few months if you want to spend a bit more. You can check out the IdeaPad 1 below.
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 (15, AMD, late 2022)
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 is powered by AMD Athlon and Ryzen 7020 series processors, delivering entry-level CPU and GPU performance for basic tasks. It also has a Full HD display and a relatively light design.
- Solid GPU performance with Radeon Graphics 610M
- Full HD display is great to have at this price
- Costs under $400, even without sales
- Fairly lightweight for a budget laptop
- No Windows Hello support
- Performance isn't on par with more expensive laptops
Best business laptop: Dell Vostro 3520
More than any other kind of laptop (aside from gaming), business devices are especially hard to find in this price range, especially because they generally include Windows 11 Pro licenses, which are more expensive. Thankfully, thanks to a discount, the Dell Vostro 3520 is a great option to get right now, coming in at $599.
Inside the Dell Vostro 3520 is an Intel Core i3-1215U, which isn't the most powerful processor around, but it is a modern one, with 6 cores and 8 threads plus boost speeds up to 4.4GHz. That should be enough for most kinds of day-to-day business tasks. It also comes with 8GB of RAM (though it's single-channel memory) and a 256GB SSD, which isn't bad at all to start with. You can always add a second RAM stick later to get better performance.
One of the factors that helps this one stand out is the display. It's a 15.6-inch panel, but unlike some of the alternatives, it at least uses IPS, and it comes in Full HD resolution. Even more surprising is that it has a 120Hz refresh rate, so animations and motion look much smoother on this screen compared to others. It's a rare feature on any laptop at this price, and it's certainly interesting to see in a business laptop. The webcam is only 720p, but that's in line with what we've seen thus far.
Looks-wise, the Dell Vostro 3520 is fairly basic, but it looks nice enough in its Carbon Black finish, which has a textured finish throughout the entire chassis. It's not a particularly thin laptop, reaching 22.47mm at its thickest point, and it weighs 3.65 pounds but it's still decently portable.
A downside of this laptop is that it lacks any USB Type-C ports, so you're stuck with Type-A ports. There are three of those, and you also get an HDMI port, RJ45 Ethernet, a headphone jack, and a full-size SD card slot. It's a solid setup overall, but it's hard not to lament the lack of a USB-C port.
Business users don't have a lot of options in this price range, but this is still a very good choice if you want something extra affordable, as long as you can find it on sale.
Dell Vostro 3520
For business users on a budget, the Dell Vostro 3520 has some great qualities, including modern processors and a 120Hz IPS display.
- Full HD IPS panel with 120Hz refresh rate
- Modern 12th-gen Intel processors
- Plenty of ports, including an SD card reader and Ethernet...
- ...But no USB-C
- 720p webcam
- An Intel Core i3 won't be very fast
Best tablet under $600: Surface Go 3
Microsoft recently refreshed its budget Surface Go line, and the Surface Go 3 is naturally the best device in the family so far. The latest iteration offers improved performance, but otherwise, it's the same as the Surface Go 2, and that's not a bad thing. For under $600, this is probably the best detachable laptop you can find.
So let's focus on that improved performance first. The Surface Go 3 comes packing an Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y, which is a dual-core, four-thread processor that can boost up to 3.4GHz. There's an option for an Intel Core i3-10100Y, but that goes over our price ceiling. The base configuration also includes 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage, and we'd definitely recommend upgrading to 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD. That configuration will cost you $550 (it's actually discounted to $500 right now), which is still within the budget, but you'll have to consider whether you want to get the keyboard and/or Surface Pen alongside it. If you don't need those things, the performance increase is certainly worth the extra cost.
The display on the Surface Go 3 didn't change, but it didn't need to. This is a 10.5-inch panel and it comes in Full HD+ (1920 x 1280) resolution, which is very sharp for a display of this size. It's also still using the classic 3:2 aspect ratio of other Surface devices, so even though it seems small on paper, it gives you a nice canvas to work with. Of course, as it's a tablet, it supports touch and the Surface Pen, though they are sold separately
One aspect where the Surface Go 3 easily rises above the rest of the devices on this list is the webcam. There's a 5MP camera on the front capable of recording 1080p video, and it's one of the best cameras on any laptop, and it especially stands out on this list. Plus, it includes support for Windows Hello facial recognition, and it's one of the few laptops on this list to have it as a standard feature. There's a second camera on the back with an 8MP sensor and 1080p video.
The Surface Go 3 also retains some premium elements in its design, like the magnesium casing Microsoft typically uses for some of its Surface devices. It's also the thinnest and lightest device on this list, weighing a mere 1.2 pounds and measuring just 8.3mm. Of course, that's without the optional keyboard, but even if you add that, it's super portable.
Ports, on the other hand, are a bit lacking. You get a USB Type-C port, a Surface Connect port for charging and docking, a headphone jack, and a microSD card reader. It's a basic setup that makes sense for a tablet, but for a PC, it's quite limited, and you'll need adapters for most wired accessories.
It's not the fastest PC out there, but the Surface Go 3 focuses on offering a premium experience in areas like the display, design, and webcam, and it's a fantastic device for this price.
Microsoft Surface Go 3
The Surface Go 3 is an affordable Windows tablet with a premium and lightweight design and great cameras.
- One of the most portable Windows devices on the market
- Sharp 3:2 display is great for the price
- 5MP webcam with Windows Hello, plus a rear camera
- Premium build quality
- Intel Pentium processor is slow compared to other laptops on this list
- Keyboard and pen cost extra
- Not many ports
Best Chromebook: Acer Chromebook Vero 514
Windows may be the most popular operating system, but not everyone needs the capabilities it offers. If your usage is mostly web-based, ChromeOS is a lightweight alternative that runs great on all kinds of hardware, and the Acer Chromebook Vero 514 is the perfect fit for it.
For starters, it's powered by an Intel Core i5-1235U processor, and that's a very capable CPU with 10 cores, 12 threads, and boost speeds up to 4.4GHz, in addition to having Iris Xe integrated graphics. That's already better than the vast majority of ChromeOS devices. It even includes 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, so you're going to have a great experience with a lightweight operating system like this one.
The display on the Acer Chromebook Vero 514 is a 14-inch panel, and it comes in a typical 16:9 aspect ratio with Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080). That's about what you'd expect in this price range, especially considering the internal specs are pretty good already. A bonus of this model is that it has a 1080p webcam, which is pretty rare at this price.
One of the more interesting things about this laptop is its design, and you may like that or you may hate it. This laptop is all about being eco-friendly, and it shows in its designs, which uses unpainted recycled materials to create a very unique (if potentially unappealing) look. It's mostly grey, but with black and yellow speckles scattered throughout and a textured finish. This makes for a decently portable laptop that weighs 3.09 pounds, though it is fairly thick, at 20.5mm.
Rounding things out with ports, there are two USB Type-C and one Type-A connection, along with HDMI and a headphone jack. It's not an overly generous setup, but certainly in line with other laptops on this list, and having more USB-C ports is always good.
At just under $600, the Acer Chromebook Vero 514 is an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a Chromebook, as long as you can appreciate some of the unique design choices.
Acer Chromebook Vero 514
The Acer Chromebook Vero 514 is an environmentally-friendly laptop with a unique look (for better or worse) and powerful specs that make it a great machine for ChromeOS.
- Powerful specs can run ChromeOS very smoothly
- 1080p webcam
- Environmentally-friendly design
- Relatively basic display
- A bit on the thick side
And those are, in our opinion, the best laptops you can buy right now for under $600. As we mentioned at the top, many of these laptops are on sale at writing time, which is why they fit the budget, so you'll have to check for yourself to make sure. Out of these, we chose the Dell Inspiron 16 as the best overall pick because it's a great combination of the latest Intel processors, a great display, and a 1080p webcam, all somewhat uncommon elements at this price. You won't find another laptop at this price that combines all that, and the only reason this one even fits is thanks to a sale, which you'll want to take advantage of.
Looking for a different type of laptop? Check out our list of the best 5G laptops if you want something that can stay connected to the internet anywhere you go (and if money isn't a constraint).
