Best laptop under $400 is a fantastic buying experience. The rate at which the budget laptop section is innovating is both reassuring and alarming at the same time. Although you are never more short of titles as a buyer, any gadget you purchase quickly becomes obsolete.
Therefore, choosing a sub-$400 laptop is complicated as you would need to buy functional, robust, and that remains appropriate for a significant length of time.
You can’t assume devices in this price span to come with an Intel Core i5 or another high-power processor like Intel i7 or Intel i9, but you definitely can receive a sound machine with adequate RAM + CPU + SSD based storage. It implies that you won’t be able to perform graphic or CPU concentrated tasks. Still, you certainly can use specific devices for daily pursuits.
Most importantly, you must understand the features/specs you’re attending for already. Have you already restrained the budget to $400? You might have to negotiate on some specs, depending on the choices and the buying nature. Machines in this scale would never highlight a powerful graphics card, long-lasting battery, sensitive touchscreen, and portability all in one. Therefore, you need to determine the essence of practice and responsibilities the device would accomplish.
Lenovo IdeaPad 3
- CPU: 2.1GHz AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Display: 14-inch FHD IPS (1920 x 1080)
- GPU: Integrated AMD Radeon Vega 8
- Battery: Up to 8 hours
- The Lenovo Ideapad 3 is the most stable laptop available in this budget spectrum. It has the AMD Ryzen 5 chipset is faster than the Intel Core i5. Additionally, it arrives with 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD based storage, and an AMD Radeon Vega 8 GPU. It doesn’t mean what the requirements are, and if you’re viewing for the best laptop for $400, then this is the choice you shouldn’t withdraw.
| PROS | CONS |
| Excellent display | No USB Type-C with charging support |
| Decent enough processing conglomerate | |
| Exceptional speakers | |
| Decent collection of ports | |
| Powerful battery |
Acer Aspire 5
- CPU: 2.6GHz AMD Ryzen 3 3200U
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 128GB SSD
- Display: 15.6-inch FHD IPS (1920 x 1080)
- GPU: Integrated AMD Radeon Vega 3
- Battery: Up to 8 hours
- Acer has always been willing to manufacture rugged budget notebooks with advanced specifications, and the Acer Aspire 5 is no distinct. This device brings forth the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U chipset with a base clock speed of 2.6GHz. The current SoC is entirely maintained by the AMD Radeon Vega 3 GPU, enhancing overall performance and visual quality. You also get a robust battery giving up to 8 hours of extended support. Overall, the Acer Aspire 5 is a budget laptop, which appears courtesy of the brilliant layout.
| PROS | CONS |
| Enthralling display | Underwhelming RAM |
| Decent processing conglomerate | Inadequate storage capacity for professionals |
| Premium chassis | |
| An exceptional collection of ports | |
| Backlit keyboard |
Dell Inspiron 3000
- CPU: 1.8GHz Intel Celeron 4205U
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 128GB PCIe SSD
- Display: 15.6-inch HD Touch (1366 x 768)
- GPU: Integrated Intel UHD
- Battery: Up to 8 hours
- Although it’s considerably hard to get hold of a featured-packed notebook below the sub-$400 price label, the Dell Inspiron 3000 fits the bill. In terms of performance, this laptop parades the average powerful Intel Celeron 4205U processor that works in tandem with an integrated Intel UHD graphics card. What endures out is the availability of 4MB of cache memory that magnifies the processing speeds! The turbo clocking speed of up to 3.4GHz ensures that the machine can work demanding responsibilities with ease.
| PROS | CONS |
| PCIe SSD storage module | Not touchscreen |
| Decent collection of functional ports | Not a full HD display |
| Good processor | |
| Commendable battery backup |
Dell Inspiron 3583
- CPU: 1.6GHz Intel Celeron
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 128GB SSD
- Display: 15.6-inch HD (1366 x 768)
- GPU: Integrated Intel UHD 610
- Battery: Up to 5 hours
- Operating within a budget begins a lot of accommodations. Dell Inspiron 3583 is not going to amaze you with its outstanding accomplishment. Still, it indeed constitutes a fair lot of ends in terms of cost, essential characteristics, and the overall utility, well within your budget. A dual-core processor Intel Celeron clocking at 1.6GHz and integrated Intel UHD Graphics 610 processor is adequate for handling the processing requirement of imminent activities like surfing, media downloads, and editing papers.
| PROS | CONS |
| 15.6 HD Anti-glare Display | Heavy |
| Windows 10 in Secure mode | Limited battery life |
| 802.11 ac | |
| 4 GB RAM |
Lenovo Chromebook Flex 3
- CPU: 2.1GHz Intel Core i3-10110U
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 64GB SSD
- Display: 13-inch FHD IPS (1920 x 1080)
- GPU: Integrated Intel UHD
- Battery: Up to 10 hours
- Chrome OS is the operating program that you can go for the sub-$400 price label. Accordingly, if you are contemplating to let go of the Windows 10 operating platform, Lenovo Chromebook Flex 3 is an excellent choice. This gadget highlights the Intel Core i3-10110U processor with a core clock speed of 2.1GHz. Besides that, you also get Intel UHD integrated graphics for more solid visuals and augmented performances. Lenovo makes forth 4MB of cache memory for enhancing processing speeds.
| PROS | CONS |
| Exceptional design | Minimal storage space |
| Powerful processor with decent cache memory | |
| Powerful battery | |
| Enthralling display with touch support |
HP 15 DW1081WM
- CPU: 2.4GHz Pentium Gold 6405U
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 500GB HDD
- Display: 15.6-inch HD LED (1366 x 768)
- GPU: Integrated Intel UHD 605
- Battery: Up to 10 hours
- The Pentium Gold 6405U is a delicate addition with a 2.4GHz base frequency. The Intel UHD 605 graphics card ultimately amplifies the performances. HDDs are slower compared to SSDs. Windows 10 Home edition is the pre-existing OS, but the machine even holds the S mode for saving extra power.
| PROS | CONS |
| Premium looking design | Inadequate storage configuration |
| Dependable battery unit | |
| 15.6 inch wide LED screen | |
| Handles basic programs |
HP 14-DQ1043CL
- CPU: 1.2GHz Intel Core i3-005G1
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Display: 14-inch FHD IPS (1920 x 1080)
- GPU: Integrated Intel UHD
- Battery: Up to 4 hours
- This laptop highlights the 10th Gen Intel Core i3 chipset that comes with a nice turbo clocking speed of up to 3.4GHz. You also get 4MB of cache memory that excellently complements the chipset and supports to reduce the application access time. HP also emphasises integrated Intel UHD graphics for upgraded visuals and random gaming.
| PROS | CONS |
| 10th Gen i3 processor | Unimpressive battery backup |
| Decent RAM support | |
| SSD unit is fast and offers decent storage capacity | |
| Full HD panel with IPS technology | |
| Has backlit keyboard | |
| Light-weighted and easy to carry |
Asus VivoBook 15
- CPU: 1.2GHz Intel Core i3-1005G1
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 128GB PCIe SSD
- Display: 15.6-inch FHD LCD (1920 x 1080)
- GPU: Integrated Intel UHD
- Battery: Up to 10 hours
- Here is a new-age budget laptop from Asus that would obligate you 400 dollars, to be precise. Most importantly, the Asus VivoBook 15 is not a typical sub-$400 device but flaunts some great, mid-range blueprints. First, you understand the Intel Core i3-1005G1 processor based on the 10nm architecture, which can clock at paces of up to 3.4GHz. Besides that, ASUS also ties in 4MB of built-in cache memory to increase the processing administrations. You also get the Intel UHD integrated graphics card which Asus stores to make way for random gaming.
| PROS | CONS |
| Powerful processor based on 10nm architecture | Underwhelming storage capacity |
| Excellent display | |
| Powerful battery | |
| Excellent physical attributes |
Microsoft Surface 3
- CPU: 1.6GHz Intel Atom x7-Z8700
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 64GB SSD
- Display: 10.8-inch PixelSense (1920 x 1280)
- GPU: Integrated Intel HD
- Battery: Up to 10 hours
- Light-weighted cost laptops are light to carry, and the Microsoft Surface 3 is the best exponent of this flexibility. This innovative part of the hardware is nifty and aesthetically desirable. The Intel Atom x7-Z8700 chipset offers satisfactorily courtesy of 2MB of built-in cache memory in processing power. This SoC draws forth a base clock speed of 1.6GHz but drops out on Turbo Boost. The combined Intel HD graphics card is also a robust processing component.
| PROS | CONS |
| Excellent display | Restricted storage space |
| Brilliant aesthetics | |
| Light-weighted chassis | |
| Performance-oriented processor |
What features should you look for in a $400 laptop?
If you are ready to pay a meagre 400 dollars for a new computer, you must have practical expectations. Common characteristics must incorporate a generous chunk of RAM, long-lasting battery, portability, good display, and a plentiful array of ports.
- A budget laptop can only maintain casual games and isn’t strong enough to play graphics-intensive contests due to a dedicated graphics card. An integrated graphics card cannot prepare frame rates too fast, and nearly every device on the listing is inappropriate for hardcore and professional gaming.
- A $400 laptop is a decent choice for handling video calls, spreadsheet processing, and primary productivity tasks requiring minimal professional indulgence levels. However, if you are looking for a device that can manage more demanding functions like applications, editing, and a decent part of RAM requires to be analysed.
- For expert editors who use complex software sets, $400 laptops aren’t rugged enough, notwithstanding the RAM upgradeability. However, online photo and video editing are supported well.
- Most budget laptops have underpowered or mid-range processing elements that are power-efficient. Moreover, these devices are only used for primary productivity and educational tasks, which establishes minimum stress on the battery, unlike the devices assigned to high-end gaming.
Conclusion for Best Laptop Under $400
It isn’t easy to choose the best sub-$400 laptops as many laptop labels and accessories in the market pick. However, the final choice is at user’s discretion and based on personal and professional inclinations.