Finding a laptop under $600 can be a bit difficult, especially if you are looking for something that is really impressive. Often, you will have to go way above that price point to get something you can use heavily for gaming or for editing content.
However, if you are just going to use it for writing, general browsing, or even streaming, you really don’t need to spend thousands of dollars. In fact, there are plenty of laptops under $600 that will fit the bill.
Contents
- Best Laptops Under 600 Dollars Comparison Table
- Four Best Laptops Under $600
- Frequently Asked Questions About Cheap Laptops
- 1. What are the main features I need to look for in a laptop under $600 dollars?
- 2. Can I use a laptop under $600 for gaming?
- 3. Can I use a laptop under $600 for college?
- 4. What storage unit will I need to get if I buy a $600 laptop?
- 5. Is there a laptop under $600 I can use for professional purposes?
- 6. Is a standard clamshell laptop good enough or should I go with a 2-in-1?
Best Laptops Under 600 Dollars Comparison Table
| Products | Pros | Cons |
| Lenovo Flex 14 2-in-1 Convertible Laptop |
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| Apple MacBook Air MJVM2LL/A 11.6 Inch Laptop |
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| 2020 Dell Inspiron 15 15.6” Touchscreen Laptop for Business and Student |
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| 2020 HP 14 Touchscreen Laptop Computer |
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Four Best Laptops Under $600
There are so many different options on the market when it comes to the best laptop under $600. You will need to think about what you want to use your laptop for.
Is it for a student? For work? Do you need to look at laptops under $600 with SSD? If you can answer these questions before you start looking, that will significantly reduce the amount of research you will need to do.
Even so, here are the top laptops under $600 that we could find.
1. Lenovo Flex 14 2-in-1 Convertible Laptop
Overall: The Lenovo Flex 14 2-in-1 Convertible Laptop is an extremely well-built, light laptop for under $600. It is great for students and those who will need to move around with their machines.
It is a light computer that you will learn to love the more you use it. It’s a great balance for those who want portability and power. If you won’t be playing games, there is no reason not to buy this one.
Specs:
| Computer Memory Size | 12 GB |
| CPU Model | AMD R Series |
| CPU Model | Manufacturer AMD |
| CPU Speed | 2.1 GHz |
| Display Resolution Maximum | 1440 x 900 pixels |
| Screen Size | 14 inches |
| Graphics Co-processor | AMD Radeon Vega 8 |
| Graphics Description | Integrated |
| Hard Disk Description | Flash Memory Solid State |
| Hard Disk Size | 256 GB |
| Human Interface Input | Touchscreen |
| Item Dimensions | 12.91 x 9.02 x 0.70 inches |
| Item Weight | 3.52 lbs |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Processor Count | 1 |
| RAM Memory Technology | DDR4 |
| Wireless Communication Standard | Bluetooth |
| Wireless Communication Technology | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
The Lenovo Flex is going to be a great option if you are looking for an affordable laptop. There is a lot that makes it worth your while. It was originally designed as a business laptop that would be easy to take on flights, and it then went into the convertible space.
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Design
This is one of the lightest laptops you will ever hold. At 3.5 pounds, it is powerful and light, which cannot be said about others. Since it is a 2-in-1, you will want something light. There are lighter models, but they don’t have as many features. One of the drawbacks is that this one is only available in black with gray plastic.
It isn’t going to be something that will make you stand out when you use it in public if that matters to you. That isn’t to say it is an unattractive laptop, but it won’t win any awards for looks. Since it is a convertible system, there are a pair of 300-degree hinges which allow you to use it as a laptop, as a tablet, or in a tent mode. The hinges are high-quality and sturdy, so you won’t have to worry about wearing them out.
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Display
With some 2-in-1 models, you will lose some crispness in the display, but not here. The display is quite sharp and vivid. It is a little darker than some other models, particularly in tent mode. It has 224 nits instead of 250 for indoor viewing. Even so, it is a usable brightness when you are in your home or in your office.
You will really only notice the problem if you are outside on a very sunny day. It is, however, great for angle-viewing, which is good if you share computers to discuss projects. The display has pen support, and you will get a Lenovo Active Pen, which is pretty good. The display responds well to taps, swipes, clicks, and the Pen.
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Performance
As far as performance goes, you will experience good performance most of the time. It is a speedy little machine with good efficiency. It has good clock speed, a Radeon RX Vega 8 graphics card, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB solid-state drive. It uses Zen+ microarchitecture, which is very good and much faster. You will be able to get higher clock rates will maintaining less power consumption.
They use a good processor which will be able to handle most day-to-day computer usage and may even be able to handle some tasks like video editing or photo editing. Unless you are a heavy gamer or editor by profession, you should be fine. The graphics card is a bit limited as well, so you shouldn’t use this just for gaming or streaming visual-heavy things.
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Ports & Connectivity
There is a lot of connectivity here, which is part of the reason it is a bit heavier than some other options. On the left side of the machine, there is a USB-C port, an HDMI port, a power adapter input, and an audio jack. On the right side of the machine, there is a Novo button, a power button, a card reader, and two USB 3.1 ports. There isn’t a Thunderbolt 3 support, which means you cannot plug in an external GPU enclosure.
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Keyboard & Touchpad
The keyboard on this laptop is extremely comfortable and has slightly concave keys and a tactile bump. You will be able to type fairly well in dark settings, and there is a backlight, which isn’t always standard at this price point. It doesn’t have a number pad, which will be a sticking point for some.
Under the keyboard, on the bottom right corner, there is a fingerprint reader you can use to unlock your computer in seconds. The trackpad isn’t too big or too small and delivers a very good experience. You will need to apply a fair amount of pressure when you click, but the swipes are accurate.
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Webcam
Included in the laptop is a 720p webcam on the uppermost part of the screen. It is a bit grainy, but you will be fine using it for Skype or Zoom chatting.
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Battery Life
The Flex has a non-removable battery that will manage about 8.5 hours for daily productivity. This is a pretty good number compared to others. If you watch videos or perform more heavy tasks, it will last slightly less. It does charge pretty quickly.
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Sound
There are a pair of bottom-firing speakers. As they are Harman Kardon, they will be better than most speakers on computers in this price range.
Pros
- Budget price;
- Thin and light;
- Performs well for basic tasks;
- 300-degree hinge;
- Fingerprint reader
Cons
- You won’t get a Thunderbolt 3,
- Which can limit expansion options;
- No discrete graphics
2. Apple MacBook Air MJVM2LL/A 11.6 Inch Laptop
Overall, the 11.5-inch Apple MacBook Air is one of the smallest and least expensive laptops on the market today. It has an attractive design and a battery that will last all day long.
Specs:
| Computer Memory Size | 4 GB |
| CPU | Model Manufacturer Intel |
| CPU Speed | 1.6 GHz |
| Display Resolution Maximum | 1366 x 768 |
| Screen Size | 11.6 inches |
| Display Technology | LED |
| Hard Disk Size | 128 GB |
| Item Dimensions | 13.40 x 9.30 x 2.40 inches |
| Item Weight | 2.38 lbs |
| Operating System | OS X 10.10 Yosemite |
| Processor Count | 2 |
| RAM Type | DDR3 SDRAM |
| Wireless Communication Standard | 802.11ac, 802.11abg, 802.11a, 802.11a/b/g/n |
The Apple MacBook has always been a gold standard in laptops, even though they’ve always been a bit more expensive. Now that there is an affordable one, can it live up to that reputation? In many ways, yes. This ultraportable laptop has some of the latest technology built-in standard, making it more powerful than many other laptops under $600. You will be able to get a lot of work done quickly with this one, and it is a perfect option for commuters or as a laptop under $600 for students.
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Design
This MacBook is going to be the most gorgeous laptop you’ve ever seen. It is thin and the all-aluminum exterior is familiar and still just as striking as it was the first time you saw it. It is 7.5 long by 11.8 wide, with a thickness that actually tapers from 0.68 inches in the back near the hinges to 0.11 inches at the front. It comes in at an astonishing 2.38 pounds, which is a bit heavier than the older models but it is still quite light. The additional weight comes from a fan for cooling, which is well worth the few extra ounces, in my opinion.
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Ports & Connectivity
On the left side of the machine, you have a headset jack, two microphones, a MagSafe 2 power jack, and a USB 3.0 port. On the right side, you will get a Thunderbolt 2 port and a second USB 3.0 port. There aren’t as many ports as with some of the other options out there, but it should be good enough for most people.
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Keyboard & Touchpad
The keys on this keyboard are in the chicklet-style that Apple is well known for. They are great to the touch and backlit very well. The touchpad is glass covered and works extremely smoothly. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have the Force-Click capabilities like some of the other MacBooks have.
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Display
Unfortunately, this isn’t a touchscreen computer. That isn’t where the problems with the display features end either. It only has a 1,366-by-768-resolution display. It is bright and decent, but it won’t be the best you can get in this price range. If you need to edit photos or videos, you may want to look elsewhere.
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Performance
This is a powerful laptop, no doubt. It is powered by a 1.6GHz Intel Core i5-5250U processor with integrated Intel HD Graphics 6000. If you are going to use Photoshop semi-regularly or watching movies or TV, it will perform well. There are some faster models out there, but not by too much.
Standard, the system comes with 4GB of RAM, but you can upgrade to double that if you wish. That is certainly enough for multitasking, but you might want to upgrade if you like to keep multiple tabs and windows open at the same time.
There is also 128GB of flash storage on the system, which should be enough for most people. That flash storage is PCIe-based, which is faster than the SATA-based solid-state drives (SSDs) some other laptops under $600 use. The speed of this laptop is helped by the fact that it doesn’t have a ton of bloatware like many other laptops will have.
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Battery Life
This is where Apple products shine. The MacBook Air 11-inch will give almost 11 hours 33 minutes of battery life, which will be hard to top in this price range.
Pros
- An absolutely gorgeous design;
- More than 11 hours of battery life;
- A brand name you can trust;
- Works with all other Apple products
Cons
- Lacks an HDMI and Ethernet port;
- No SD card;
- Some bad display angles
3. 2020 Dell Inspiron 15 15.6” Touchscreen Laptop for Business and Student
Overall, the Dell Inspiron 15 5000 is one of the best laptops under $600 for students for many reasons. It is a great machine that is super portable (great for going to class) and runs smoothly. Overall, it will meet many of your requirements and even has a few surprises.
Specs:
| Computer Memory Size | 8 GB |
| CPU Model Manufacturer | Intel |
| CPU Speed | 1.20 GHz |
| Display Resolution | Maximum 1366×768 pixels |
| Screen Size | 15.6 inches |
| Display Technology | LED |
| Hard Disk Size | 128 GB |
| Item Dimensions | 15.00 x 10.20 x 0.80 inches |
| Item Weight | 4.45 lbs |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Processor Count | 2 |
| RAM Type | DDR4 SDRAM |
| Wireless Communication Standard | 802.11ac |
This is going to be a great machine for most people, and it is a solid construction. Dell is a name which has provided some really great tech, but they’ve also let a lot of people down over the years. If you are willing to take a chance on the name again, you will be pleasantly surprised by what you see.
Now, this is going to be a heavier laptop than the others on the list, coming in at 5.4 pounds. It shouldn’t really be too heavy to carry around, but you should probably use a bag with a good strap. It is also slightly smaller than the others, coming in at 14.9 x 10.25 x 0.94 inches.
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Design
If you are looking for a machine that is beautiful, you won’t really find that here. It isn’t a looker that will make you stand out. It has a pretty standard industrial-silver case with some black accents. If you are looking for something that is a bit more interesting to look at, you can get a different set of colors, including gold, blue, or the stunning red.
The Dell logo is in the middle of the top (students will probably cover it with a sticker). One interesting thing about the design is that it has a texture that makes it easier to carry in your hands without fearing it will slip out. When you open the laptop, you will see a dark gray coating that is actually smooth to the touch.
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Display
Displays matter for so many things, and this 15-inch laptop for under $600 has a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution. It has a fairly thick black bezel, making it one of the holdouts that still has a bezel at all. As for the colors on the display, they aren’t quite as vibrant as some of the other options on this list. If you watch a lot of TV or movies, or you play video games, you won’t get the true experience. It is particularly noticeable in darker scenes.
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Ports
The Dell Inspiron 15 5000 packs quite a few ports onto the body of the machine. On the left side, you get a power port, Ethernet jack, HDMI out port, USB 3.0 port, and an SD card reader. On the right side, you will get an audio jack (headphone and microphone combo jack), two USB 2.0 ports, and an optical drive.
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Keyboard & Touchpad
The keyboard on this laptop is quite shallow and somewhat stiff. If you type frequently and you need something that is easy on the fingers and hands, this isn’t it. The palm rest is good, however, so it isn’t bad if you are going to be using the same keys over and over again.
Another problem seems to be the line spacing, which can actually slow down your typing speed. Interestingly enough, the keyboard is spill-proof, which is new and good. Another benefit is that it has a full numeric pad on the right-hand side of the keyboard, perfect for math and accounting majors. The touchpad is quite good, on the other hand. It measures at 4.1 x 3.1 inches, which is larger than most.
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Audio
Most laptops don’t have audio you can really remark on, though it is usually fine. However, the Inspiron 15 5000 has some great audio. The sound is crisp and clear. You will be able to make out different lyrics.
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Performance
This is a great performer, even for Dell. The processor is Intel Core i5-8250U which can boost up to 3.4 GHz of performance. This will be perfect for those who need a computer that can handle more. It also has 8 GB of RAM, which is double some of the competition. The graphics chipset is good as well, but you won’t be able to play high-end titles on it.
Some of the less demanding titles are on the table, however. There is a good bit of storage, but it is slightly slow for the performance. It has 256GB SSD, so if you are going to store a lot of data, you may want to use an external hard drive.
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Battery Life
This laptop has decent battery life, but not the best on this list. It lasts about 6.5 hours, which is still a good amount of time.
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Overheating
One of the biggest complaints about this laptop is that it has a tendency to get really hot. If you are the type of person who wants to sit with your laptop on your legs or on your bed, you will have to be careful. The bottom of the laptop is what gets hot. You may want to invest in an external fan computer pad that will help to pull some of the heat away.
Pros
- Great price;
- Sturdy;
- Comes in different colors;
- Great for mainstream usage
Cons
- Overheats;
- A bit bulky;
- Some loss of color vibrance
4. 2020 HP 14 Touchscreen Laptop Computer
Overall, this laptop gives a solid performance with a really comfortable keyboard. However, it does not live up to the battery life of some of the other options on this list.
| Computer Memory Size | 8 GB |
| CPU Model Manufacturer | AMD |
| CPU | Speed 2.60 GHz |
| Display Resolution Maximum | 1366×768 pixels |
| Screen Size | 14 inches |
| Hard Disk Size | 512 GB |
| Item Dimensions | 12.76 x 8.89 x 0.78 inches |
| Item Weight | 3.24 lbs |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Processor Count | 2 |
| RAM Type | DDR4 SDRAM |
| Wireless Communication Standard | 802.11ac |
If you are willing to take a gamble on this HP laptop, you will be surprised at just how good it can be. While you aren’t going to get a lot of battery life, if you won’t be traveling or in places without a power source, it’s a great choice. It comes in at 3.1, which is pretty light. It is also very slim; it comes in at 12.8 x 8.9 x 0.8 inches.
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Design
Once again, you aren’t going to get the most beautiful laptop in this price range. It has a pretty generic plastic case with a silver color. It at least has some luster. There is a little bit of a style on the hinge, and the black deck is pretty cool. There are slim bezels, which are becoming more and more standard.
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Ports and Connectivity
This laptop has a good number of ports located all over the sides of the machine. On the left side, you will get a security lock slot, one USB Type-C port, and an SD card slot. On the right side, you will get the power jack, an RJ45 Ethernet port, an HDMI 1.4 port, two USB 3.1 ports, and a headphone jack.
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Display
As far as the display goes, it isn’t going to be the brightest or most colorful display. It has a glossy screen and a leveled-out contrast which make the viewing experience from all angles pretty good. It also has a 1920 x 1080 resolution. You will be able to make out many details and nuances in the animations as long as they aren’t too colorful or black.
The screen itself isn’t washed out, but there are some issues within the darkness. It has 205 nits to help with brightness, which isn’t the best but isn’t the worst. Overall, I think it is a better option than some of the other choices.
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Keyboard & Touchpad
The keyboard is backlit and has a more stylish font on the keys. The laptop is a bit loud and clicky, but it is a good laptop for typing. There is backlighting and the font on the keys is quite cool. You will be able to type quickly, and you won’t experience a lot of problems with hand stress. The touchpad is a bit hard, especially the discrete buttons. You can use two-finger scrolling and three-finger tabbing, however.
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Performance
This laptop comes with an Intel Core i3-8130U processor and 4GB of RAM. It should be able to handle quite a bit of open tabs and video playing before it slows down. It is able to deliver some pretty great performance for a long time, too. We’ve been able to track reviews from people who bought this when it was released, and they haven’t experienced much degradation in terms of performance at all.
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Battery Life
While the battery life isn’t horrible, it isn’t all that great either. You will be able to use it for about 6 hours and 12 minutes before you need to recharge. Unfortunately, some users said the amount of time you can use it falls quite a bit as it gets older.
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Webcam
The webcam isn’t all that great here either. You will be able to use it for friendly chats, but I wouldn’t use it as a business computer or for online school, as the picture is quite blotchy.
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Heating & Cooling
This machine does really cool when you are using it. You will be comfortable enough that you can hold it on your lap while you are using it, even if you are on for hours.
Pros
- Good performance,
- Comfortable keyboard,
- 1080p display
Cons
- The battery life isn’t great;
- Graphics are only okay
Frequently Asked Questions About Cheap Laptops
Buying a new laptop is an investment for anyone, even if you are going to buy one that is under $600. This doesn’t mean you need to get something that is basically disposable and doesn’t work. You can truly get a great laptop within this price range if you are willing to do some research.
You may also be able to wait out some more expensive options and see when they go on sale if you are looking for a more powerful machine.
1. What are the main features I need to look for in a laptop under $600 dollars?
You will need to think about what you are going to use your computer for in the first place. If you are a student and will use it for research and typing, you may need a computer with a better keyboard. If you are an editor or a photographer, you may look for a laptop that has better visuals.
You need to at least look for 4GB of RAM (or 8GB if you are looking for a long-term laptop) and an i5 processor. Another thing you may want to consider is the battery life of your laptop, especially if you will be taking it on business trips or to class.
2. Can I use a laptop under $600 for gaming?
Most of the laptops included on our list of the best laptops for under 600 dollars do not have dedicated gaming cards or any features that will be attractive to gamers.
There are some which can support some lightweight gaming, or you can add some external features that will help gaming. You want to get a laptop with better cooling supports, a better GPU, and even more memory to really be able to game. Of course, you can play games like solitaire on these.
3. Can I use a laptop under $600 for college?
Yes, students have been able to get through college with laptops of all prices. While it may eventually come down to what major you have (photography and art majors will likely need more expensive models as will some science majors) or what you are going to do with your computer.
Students usually need a laptop that can handle absolutely massive data sets and RAM without lags. Some students may want better graphics cards if they are going to use their laptops to stream on Netflix or Hulu. Another feature you may want is a longer battery life that will allow you to take your laptop to longer classes and lectures.
4. What storage unit will I need to get if I buy a $600 laptop?
If you purchase a laptop with a powerful processor and enough RAM support, you can get a static Hard Disk drive without about 1TB of storage.
However, there are some SSD units that will help to quicken boot-ups and make your device more user friendly. You can pretty much get away with anything or nothing, depending on your major. English majors probably won’t even need to bother.
5. Is there a laptop under $600 I can use for professional purposes?
If you want a basic laptop you can use in a professional setting, to either take notes, make presentations, build spreadsheets, and go on video calls, then any of the laptops we have listed above are adequate.
I would consider maybe investing in a new webcam if you will be doing a lot of meetings, as the built-in webcams aren’t great. Even so, you will be able to keep up with most professional tasks unless you are editing photos or videos.
6. Is a standard clamshell laptop good enough or should I go with a 2-in-1?
If you are interested in productivity and mobility with your laptop, then go with a 2-in-1 model that will fill all your needs as a tablet, tent, and a regular computer. However, if you are mostly going to be at a desk somewhere, you should get the standard clamshell as you will get more out of it over time.
It also tends to be a bit more sturdy. The tablet features are great, but we just don’t use them all the time.
There are just so many different kinds of laptops out there, and they all fall into various price points. Sometimes, laptops that aren’t too expensive can be great and sometimes laptops that are expensive don’t live up to the hype. There are plenty of options out there. You won’t have to make too many concessions if you don’t want to make them.
The final choice should be the laptop that is going to work for you. You will need to think about the different things you will use your laptop for: the battery life, the different modes, the looks, the display, how easy it is to type, and even the warranty and support you will get with it. This is especially true for people who are in college and may need that support.
If you don’t think any of the laptops above sound like they are going to fit what you need out of your laptop, you may want to try increasing your budget by even $100 and see what you can get.
There are plenty of different options available for just a few more dollars. If you see more than you want in the ones listed above, try bringing down your maximum amount and see what you can get for $400 or 500$. That may help you to feel more secure in the decision you make.
Remember that this is a completely personal decision, and you will be the one using your computer.
